While, depending on who you listen to, there have been mixed messages coming out of Maranello over the winter concerning both the Ferrari power unit and the SF1000's aero, the Italian team currently faces an issue far removed from the technical side of matters.

An Italian consumer group is taking action against Ferrari over its Mission Winnow branding, and among other things is seeking seizure of the car.

"The Ministry's opinion states that the Mission Winnow brand used on the occasion of Formula 1 sporting events allows, through the links on the site of the same name, a promotion, albeit indirectly, to an important manufacturer of cigarettes and new tobacco products," said the consumer group, Codacons, in a statement referring to the Mission Winnow vaping products produced by long-time sponsor Philip Morris International .

"Strengthened by the decision of the ministry that confirms us across the board, we will start legal proceedings against Ferrari," said Codacons president, Carlos Rienzi according to AutoMoto. "We will also ask for the new SF1000 single-seater that was presented in Reggio Emilia to be seized."

While this isn't the first time that the Mission Winnow branding has been in the headlines, many seeing it as a flagrant bid to get around the long-standing ban on tobacco, it marks a clearly more determined effort to outlaw the advertising of tobacco-related products such as e-cigarettes and vaping.

Interestingly, McLaren is sponsored by British American Tobacco which is pushing its own vaping products, courtesy of the 'Better Tomorrow' branding.

The Mission Winnow branding was banned at a number of races last year, as was that on the McLaren, and it remains to be seen how seriously government officials take Codacons demands.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 13/02/2020 23:12

"Surely this can be simply rectified by putting a space between the 'double N's' in Winnow and it turns into a Mission statement...Mission Win now'. After all that's their prime intention!!!"

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2. Posted by Egalitarian, 13/02/2020 21:52

"Seize the car!!!! I agree it sounds nuts, but pretty much everyone sat up and took notice. And I suspect that was the intended outcome. So now we know that Codacons exists. Mission accomplished?"

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3. Posted by SchumiSalo, 13/02/2020 21:33

"Just try mate, you’ll have a riot on your hands! Who exactly is going to try seize the car? Just that one random bloke kicking off?! I don’t think so, he wouldn’t even be able to get past security at Maranello! I’m sure Ferrari will be quite happy to leave the branding off the car since the logos look crap anyway! I’m sure Phillip Morris International will think of something else, i’m sure they come up with something, it looks a rubbish with the mission winnow logos on it, spoils it. Plus send the W upside down and what do you get? M- minnow! Oh no, no wonder they’ve been struggling for years! That’s what you call all small- fry team! I’ve always thought it brought them bad luck! "

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4. Posted by The edge, 13/02/2020 21:28

"I agree with below... Ferrari is a national institute in Italy, there’s no way the authorities would damage the chance to compete.... a big fat fine maybe... but they won’t take the 🚗 "

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5. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 13/02/2020 19:48

"The Ferrari will not be seized. For what?"

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 13/02/2020 19:35

"I'm sure they'll be able to cheat their way out of it."

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7. Posted by F1nerd, 13/02/2020 17:20

"If they seize the car there will be a riot in Italy. Then there will be problems, how pathetic cane some people get?"

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8. Posted by mch-one, 13/02/2020 16:52

"What did Ferrari actually do or not do - that they're being sued ??!"

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9. Posted by Carsten B, 13/02/2020 15:12

"Seizing the car??? They are mad those Italians.

IMHO they could be forced to change the logo. But in legal affairs common sense seems to be applicable."

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