Ferrari Denies Illegal Subliminal Tobacco Branding on F10 Car

A recent report in British newspaper The Times revealed that Ferrari may be using subliminal advertising on the livery of its 2010 formula one car. To be more precise, the British reporters argued that the 'barcode' branding present on the engine cover of the Ferrari F10 resembles the cigarette packaging of Ferrari's sponsor Philip Morris.

Consequently, the UK government was apparently urged to look into this matter and solve this issue before the 2010 British Grand Prix , scheduled at Silverstone in July.

However, in a media statement on their official website, Ferrari have denied such reports, insisting that their car has never featured any kind of cigarette branding since 2007, “even in countries where local laws would still have permitted it.”

“These reports are based on two suppositions: that part of the graphics featured on the Formula 1 cars are reminiscent of the Marlboro logo and even that the red colour which is a traditional feature of our cars is a form of tobacco publicity,” said the Ferrari statement.

“Neither of these arguments have any scientific basis, as they rely on some alleged studies which have never been published in academic journals. But more importantly, they do not correspond to the truth.”

“The so called barcode is an integral part of the livery of the car and of all images coordinated by the Scuderia, as can be seen from the fact it is modified every year and, occasionally even during the season. Furthermore, if it was a case of advertising branding, Philip Morris would have to own a legal copyright on it,” added the statement.