MARCH 4, 2004

Formula 1 tobacco companies lawyers meet

Lawyers representing the tobacco companies involved in Formula 1 met in London recently to discuss the problems which will be created by the new British law which bans British-based F1 teams from running with tobacco branding at any race anywhere in the world. This led to fears that some of the teams would relocate out of Britain. That is not likely to happen as the tobacco companies are now busily lobbying the British parliament to change the law so as to not destroy Britain's motorsport success. The teams which are most affected by the problem are BAR, Jordan, Renault and McLaren. BAR sources say that British American Tobacco will be pulling out of F1 in 2006 as planned but other teams are planning to go on with tobacco sponsorship because of the European Union's attempts to move the planned date of its ban.