When Philip Morris unpacked its first smoking F1 livery

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For almost five decades, Philip Morris was Formula 1's most prominent and longest-serving sponsor.

For the American tobacco company, it all started in 1972 with a partnership with the British BRM team.

And in the winter of that year at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Philip Morris unpacked its first red and white Marlboro liveried F1 car, with a BRM P160B driven by Peter Gethin breaking out of a giant cigarette box.

Marlboro's presence loomed large in the F1 paddock in the seventies and eighties and until the mid-nineties, its colors raced by several teams and countless drivers.

Even a ban on tobacco advertising in F1 in 2006 didn't deter Philip Morris which continued to support Ferrari, with various red and white 'subliminal' graphics appearing on the Scuderia's cars for years until its Mission Winnow brand took over the space in 2019.

But Ferrari dropped the name in 2022, potentially concluding Philip Morris' near 50-year presence in F1.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.