Formula 1 is facing calls to rethink its tobacco sponsorships given its large young viewership. Last year, F1 saw its kids’ viewership soar, with nearly 4M 8-12-year-olds tuning in across the U.S. and Europe, thanks to its kid-friendly partnerships with Disney, LEGO, Hot Wheels, and Netflix’s Drive to Survive. Now, over 160 anti-tobacco and health groups have sent letters to F1’s commercial rights holder and partner teams, urging the sport to drop deals with Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco who respectively back Ferrari and McLaren with their Zyn and Velo brands. Critics argue that these deals clash with F1’s efforts to grow its young audience. YPulse data shows 39% of European young adults already smoke cigarettes and even more vape, so concerns about tobacco sponsorships targeting youth aren’t unwarranted. Formula One Group, however, says it complies with all applicable laws, leaving the debate over ethics and influence on young fans very much alive. (Reuters)
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