Formula One team Ferrari has extended its partnership with tobacco company Philip Morris through to the end of 2015.

Philip Morris’ Marlboro brand has been a sponsor of the team since 1984 and Ferrari’s title partner since 1997. Although tobacco advertising was banned from the sport in 2007, the team’s official name away from the track remains “Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro”.

Last year, Ferrari removed a barcode livery from its F1 cars that was thought to resemble Marlboro branding after the team was accused of subliminal advertising. In a one-line statement, the team confirmed: “Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has extended its collaboration agreement with Philip Morris International to the end of 2015.”

Ferrari was the last F1 team to remove tobacco branding from its cars, with Williams being the first to run without the branding in 2000. Philip Morris’ previous deal with Ferrari was struck in 2005 and was due to expire at the end of the 2011 season.

Ferrari is currently third in the Constructors’ Championship standings with 101 points behind McLaren-Mercedes on 186 and RBR-Renault on 255. Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are fifth and sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, with 69 and 32 points, respectively, after the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday.

source: Sport business