“Mission Winnow has always experimented with its visual identity” – Ferrari sponsor Philip Morris International has explained the green logo on this year’s livery, which sparked social media outrage.
Ferrari’s livery this season looks good, but over-critical fans couldn’t help but notice the green Mission Winnow logo on it. Previously, the logo was seen in black-and-white, so it came as quite a shocker for the tifosi. Now, Philip Morris International has spoken out on the choice of the colour, via spokesperson Tommaso Di Giovanni.
“From the start, Mission Winnow has always experimented with its visual identity. Much like a green screen does for film, the green arrow represents possibility and opens the opportunity to imagine new horizons.
“Regardless of opinions about the colour, sparking debate and creating dialogue is exactly what Mission Winnow is meant to do. We have consistently encouraged people to place their preconceptions about our company aside and to open their mind to the transformation we are going through.
“More broadly, Mission Winnow focus on promoting [and] driving positive change, fostering engagement and opening conversations around the role that science, technology and innovation can play in helping to address a range of societal challenges – now and into the future.”
Mission Winnow smokescreen for surrogate tobacco advertising?
Formula 1 is a global brand, and naturally, tobacco companies are attracted to it as well. Apart from Philip Morris, McLaren has British American Tobacco as one of their key sponsors since 2019. Ferrari’s choice hasn’t gone well with Italian consumer rights group Codacons though. They have threatened them with legal action in the past, and have now come up with a fresh statement.
“We strongly contest Ferrari’s choice to resort once again to a sponsor directly linked to tobacco, despite the legal prohibitions and the serious health effects of smoking on human health.”
Also read: “I’m at ease with the car”- Charles Leclerc on Ferrari’s SF21
