Campaigners say Big Tobacco targets kids via F1, call for sponsorship ban

(Corrects misspelling of Yolonda Richardson's name in paragraph 13)

By Emma Rumney

LONDON, March 4 : Formula One, followed by millions of children worldwide, should bar sponsorship deals with tobacco companies seeking to drive uptake of addictive nicotine pouches, 162 anti-tobacco and health groups said in letters to the sport's commercial rights holder and partners.

Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco sponsor the Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren F1 teams respectively with their Zyn and Velo nicotine pouch labels - partnerships the campaign groups say conflict with F1's push to expand its youth audience.

In December, Zyn's partnership with Ferrari was expanded to include additional races, while BAT's Velo branding is visible across F1 events, including drivers' suits and cars, with special livery for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"By sponsoring F1 teams, tobacco companies are seeking to reach the same young people Formula One has worked hard to attract," organisations including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the American Lung Association wrote in letters viewed by Reuters.

"Formula One must not be complicit in these efforts," said the letter addressed to commercial rights holder the Formula One Group. Campaigners also sent letters to F1 partners with large youth followings such as Disney and Lego, calling for a ban on nicotine pouch sponsorships.

Responding to concerns over such sponsorships given the sport's growing youth audience, Formula One Group said it complies with all applicable laws. PMI and BAT stated their marketing targets adults. McLaren noted BAT's digital activities are age-restricted, while Scuderia Ferrari did not respond.

The Formula One Group, the tobacco companies and F1's other