New Title Sponsor for McLaren?

From F1-live.com:



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Team McLaren, which is known to enjoy some of the most stable sponsor relationships in F1, might welcome a new title sponsor in 2005 to replace the West cigarette brand.

The Woking-based team previously had the longest-lasting relationship between an F1 team and a main sponsor with Marlboro (Philip Morris) from 1974 to 1996. Then the red and white livery was replaced in 1997 by the colours of West cigarettes, a German brand owned by Reemtsma.

It now appears that Imperial Tobacco - owner of Reemtsma - is preparing to leave Formula One to adjust with the upcoming European ban on tobacco advertising.

According to the Sunday Herald, McLaren and Diageo (the consumer goods company that owns the Johnnie Walker brand) agreed to a £36 million sponsorship contract to feature the name of the popular scotch whisky brand as the team's official title sponsor.

Although the information has not been confirmed, Johnnie Walker is supposed to replace West as title sponsor once the Imperial Tobacco sponsorship contract with McLaren ends in July 2005. Still according to the Sunday Herald, the new sponsorship deal might even start earlier to coincide with the beginning of the 2005 F1 season in March.

"Is F1 an exciting proposition for Johnnie Walker? Yes it is. But it is only one of the activities we would consider." said a spokesperson of Diageo to the Sunday Herald. Is it the first hint of a probable collaboration between the company and McLaren Mercedes? We should know in the next few weeks.
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Looks like Kimi is already embracing the new products here: http://www.aftonbladet.se/sport/0411/27/SPORT-27s20-kimmi-12_368.jpg and here:http://www.aftonbladet.se/sport/0411/27/SPORT-27s20-kimi2-61_368.jpg


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The Johnnie Walker McLaren? Well, if NASCAR can have the Jack Daniels Chevrolet, why not? (Though, personally, I'd like to see the cars back in Gulf orange or even the Yardley colors.)

 

Well this means that Williams and NOW McLaren are prepared for the banning of tobacco advertising/involvement. Could this be the down turn of Ferrari because they are so tied into Marlboro?

What about BAR whose sole purpose is to advertise BAT ... ?

Pete