Ferrari extends Marlboro deal.

In line with expectation, Ferrari has announced an extension of its current sponsorship deal with American tobacco giant Philip Morris, even though it will be prevented from displaying any form of branding for the Marlboro brand at the majority of grands prix from now on.

Tough European Union regulations brought an end to tobacco sponsorship within its boundaries at the start of August, and also threatens legal action against anyone displaying such branding via the media. With more and more non-EU countries also ratifying the WHO treaty on tobacco promotion, the number of markets in which the Scuderia can display its backer's wares are becoming more limited globally.

However, both team and sponsor - which have agreed to extend their partnership until 2011 - are relying on the visual association of Ferrari red and Marlboro red-and-white to promote the brand. The two F2005s have been running with visually-altered Marlboro logos at races where branding is banned this season.

Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo announced the extended deal on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, but did not disclose how much the sponsorship would contribute to the Scuderia's funds for the next six seasons.