McLaren announces partnership with British American Tobacco

  • Published on 11 Feb 2019 12:27
  • 6
  • By: Fergal Walsh

McLaren has announced a long-term partnership deal with British American Tobacco (BAT), who previously owned the British American Racing team that competed in Formula 1 from 1999 to 2005.

Tobacco advertising has been banned from F1 since 2006, however, McLaren says that the new relationship would focus on BAT’s “transforming agenda”.

The statement from McLaren added that it would also be "leveraging its portfolio of potentially reduced risk products", and aim to "deliver the world’s tobacco and nicotine consumers a better tomorrow." McLaren Applied Technologies will work with BAT on areas including battery technology and advanced materials.

“We welcome BAT to the McLaren team and support their ambition of delivering meaningful and lasting change through innovation," said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. "BAT’s transformation agenda is central to this partnership and we are pleased to share our technical experience and expertise in helping to accelerate this.”

Kingsley Wheaton, BAT’s Chief Marketing Officer added:“We’re extremely proud and excited about this new partnership, further enabling us to accelerate the pace at which we innovate and transform ourselves. 

"It gives us a truly global platform with which to drive greater resonance of our potentially reduced risk products, including our Vype, Vuse and glo brands. Ultimately, innovation and technology will support us in creating a better tomorrow’ for our consumers worldwide.”

Replies (6)

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  • kngrthr

    Posts: 203

    "leveraging its portfolio of potentially reduced risk products"

    what language are they speaking ?

    • + 0
    • Feb 11 2019 - 13:03
  • That's a Marlboro- Ferrari copy strategy, great way to get around the ban, and all the better if it brings back much-needed tobacco cash back to the sport!

    • + 0
    • Feb 11 2019 - 13:13
  • Mansell

    Posts: 104

    BAT's mission winnow then,

    • + 0
    • Feb 11 2019 - 13:50
  • I love it. Tobacco should have never been banned. If people are stupid enough to willingly smoke cigarettes, let them. I just want to to see well funded teams.

    • + 1
    • Feb 11 2019 - 16:09
  • Im not really fuzzed with the whole tobacco stickers on the car thing. However, as someone working in healthcare, I have seen what smoking can do to people, directly or indirectly, and to even risk inducing some of those things by influencing people to get in on it isn't something I can approve of. Sorry, like the JPS livery, liked the Marlboro McLaren livery and the stuff, but as of today, it makes little sense to have such stickers. Ain't it bad enough that we have liquer and energy drinks? By all means this move makes sense for McLaren and Ferrari, and its a sound move. Just make sure they ain't getting stickers on for the public.

    • + 0
    • Feb 11 2019 - 18:38

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