In a single sentence press release recently posted on its website, Ferrari revealled that the team had "extended its collaboration agreement with Philip Morris International to the end of 2015." That led to a wave of anger from health campaigners and The Guardian reported last Sunday (July 3) that both Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) have written to FIA President Jean Todt, asking him to investigate the new sponsorship agreement.

Deborah Arnott, the CEO of ASH was quoted by The Guardian as saying that the new sponsorship agreement gave Ferrari "an unfair advantage over other teams which no longer take tainted tobacco industry sponsorship," while the British daily newspaper also quoted Professor John Britton, chair of the RCP's tobacco advisory group and director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, who said the deal appeared to breach EU laws prohibiting tobacco sponsorship.

Britton said that the arrangement continued the "subliminal" links between Ferrari and Marlboro. "People are aware Ferrari is sponsored by Marlboro," he told The Guardian, "and the positive assets of the Ferrari team, things like danger and manliness, all translate to the brand."

The latest row comes a year after Scuderia Ferrari was forced to drop the controversial 'barcode' livery from its Formula 1 cars after a widespread outcry from anti-smoking campaigners. Ferrari has now responded quietly to this latest, growing row by dropping the Marlboro name from the team's title - up to now it was known as "Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro" - and off its related signage away from the trackside.

Ferrari public relations spokesperson told Pitpass.com this morning that: "Philip Morris and Ferrari have responded to recent concerns regarding the official Ferrari name and have decided, effective immediately and worldwide, that 'Marlboro' will no longer be part of the team name. Whilst we do not agree with the concerns raised, our decision has been taken in line with our history of responsiveness to similar issues and to avoid what would likely be an unnecessary and unproductive debate." Meanwhile, also this morning, Speedtv.com reported a spokesperson as telling them: It’s our decision, we already comply with all the rules in the UK and everywhere else."

Meanwhile on track the ninth round of the 2011 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the British Grand Prix, got underway this morning at Silverstone, with the first free practice session. Coming out on top in a session affected by intermittent rain was Mark Webber in the Red Bull, the Australian setting a best time of 1.46.603. Next up was Michael Schumacher (1.47.263) in the Mercedes ahead of Rubens Barrichello (1.47.347) in the Williams. Ferrari ended the morning in fifth and seventh places, in a session strongly affected by the number of laps that could be done in the time available: Felipe Massa did 13 laps, the best in 1.47.562, while team-mate Fernando Alonso did 16 laps, the fastest in 1.48.161. Difficult to draw any conclusions at the end of a session during which Scuderia Ferrari tested all the new components brought here to Silverstone, which include a new floor, exhausts and a new rear wing and updated rear bodywork. Both Ferrari men used one set of intermediates and Fernando also tried an in and out lap on slicks. The action gets underway again at 13:00 local time with the second free practice session.