AUGUST 14, 2000
Coca-Cola's F1 plans
Coke remains the strongest brand in the world although marketing experts say that the brand lost 13% of its brand value last year as a result of the health scare in Belgium which dented the company's image. Thus a direct sponsorship of a team is not the obvious thing to do. Local promotions around Grands Prix events, using high profile drivers, will probably be more effective while trackside signage will link the drink to the sport.
We hear that the push to be involved in F1 comes not from Coca-Cola in the United States but rather from Coca-Cola's European subsidiaries and backing is currently being tried out on Justin Wilson's Formula 3000 entry. The Coca-Cola representatives who appeared in Hungary are talking about small deals on cars and are believed to be discussing possibilities with mid-ranking teams, notably Jordan, Benetton and Arrows. There were also talks with Ferrari in Hungary.