Marlboro extends for three years with Ferrari
All the tobacco companies have withdrawn from F1, except for Marlboro. The Philip Morris subsidiary has thus extended its association with Ferrari for three additional seasons.
The current contract between the two partners was signed in 2011 and was set to run until the end of the current season. At the time, the staff on both sides was quite different, as the team director was Stefano Domenicali and the marketing director of the cigarette company was… Maurizio Arrivabene, who has since taken the reins at Maranello.
Three weeks after the announcement of the signing in June 2011, the Scuderia had removed its last official link with Marlboro by taking the name of the tobacco company off its official designation. At the time, Luca Colajanni, the communications manager of the Scuderia, explained this decision as follows: Philip Morris and Ferrari have responded to recent questions about the official name of the team and have decided, with immediate and worldwide effect, that “Marlboro” will no longer be part of the official name. Even if we do not agree with the concerns raised, our decision was made in our tradition of addressing such issues to avoid unnecessary and unproductive debates.
If the two companies refuse to promote such a renewal, which was simply confirmed in an email sent to Bloomberg, it is nonetheless crucial for the Scuderia since the previous agreement guaranteed them the payment of 160 million dollars per season. The promotion of the partnership is, however, ensured in a number of Duty Free shops in airports where anti-tobacco laws are less stringent. The upcoming spectators of the Monaco Grand Prix should also notice the association, which is not prohibited in the Principality.
But Marlboro also gains the opportunity to invite clients and partners to various races, especially in strategic markets for it, as well as for exclusive visits to the Maranello factory. Thus, according to information from La Repubblica, a Philip Morris board meeting was held last September at the Ferrari premises.
It should be noted that the relationship between the two companies goes beyond F1 sponsorship since Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of FIAT, Ferrari’s parent company, is also a non-executive director of Philip Morris. According to Bloomberg, this position enables him to receive $320,000 per year, and it allowed him to receive $5.2 million in shares.
With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr
