New Evidence Seems to Confirm Ferrari F1 Have Ended Their Title Partnership With Mission Winnow

Philip Morris International, one of the world’s largest cigarette and tobacco manufacturing companies, have arguably been the biggest backer of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1. Ferrari cars used to rule the racing grid with the branding ‘Marlboro’ on the side-pods.

However, then arrived the game-changing rule of ‘no more tobacco’. F1 teams that were in partnership with tobacco manufacturing companies, had to break their relationship, with Ferrari being one such team. Yet, PMI stuck with the Maranello outfit internally without branding any of their products on the cars.

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and France during final practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Peter J Fox/Getty Images)

Over a decade later, PMI arrived onto the grid again, but in a disguise. The Swiss-American company showed its interest in delivering a tobacco-free future and hence introduced a campaign called ‘Mission Winnow’. This particular term ended up back on the Ferrari cars in 2018.

But, since then, it has been a rather bitter-sweet phase for PMI amidst massive oppose from a large part of Europe. The latest being 2021, where Ferrari had to remove the Green colour ‘MW’ branding from the car’s livery through the race weekends in Hungary, Silverstone, Spa, and more.

End of Ferrari & Mission Winnow?

According to the recently released 2021 F1 entry list, Mission Winnow are no longer the title partner of Ferrari. If it indeed is true, it doesn’t necessarily come as a shock, considering the on-off presence of Mission Winnow on the livery in recent months.

La entry list aggiornata per la stagione 2022 di Formula 1. Zhou ha scelto il numero 24, l’Alfa ha modificato il nome del team (“Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN”), mentre al momento non è più presente Mission Winnow come title partner Ferrari #F1 pic.twitter.com/UH6UlNGc3n

— Gianluca D’Alessandro (@Gianludale27) December 8, 2021

It is certain that PMI are displeased with the way a lot of countries have ill-treated their anti-tobacco campaign. There were visible frustrations within PMI throughout this season.

Formula One F1 – Turkish Grand Prix – Intercity Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey – October 8, 2021 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in action during practice REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Hence, this could one of the primary reasons PMI would have chosen to back out as the title sponsor of Ferrari. Now the bigger question is, who is likely to replace MW as the title sponsor?

Well, Ferrari are yet to affirm if the reports are true and whether they would be opting for a replacement or continue to work through the 2022 season without any title partner.

Of course, we’d wish to see Santander make its way back into Ferrari as sponsors after breaking it late in 2017. But, let’s wait and watch how the future unfolds for Ferrari with respect to the successors of Mission Winnow.

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