Marlboro’s Ferrari plan?

With news that Ferrari and Marlboro had extended their cigarette sponsorship deal, an interesting rumor did the rounds in Sunday's Monza paddock.

With tobacco branding now banned not only all over Europe but also elsewhere, it is perhaps hard to see the logic in renewing the multi million dollar deal until 2011.

It is perpetually speculated, though, that Marlboro's parent company, Philip Morris, will pay not just for the occasional branding, but for the entire – and otherwise blank – red car livery.

Another rumor joined the speculation in Italy, meanwhile. It was claimed that Philip Morris is looking into putting Ferrari's Prancing Horse badge on Marlboro cigarette packets, thus continuing their direct link.

''(We are) going to comply with the rules and regulations wherever we do business,'' Philip Morris spokesman Tommaso di Giovanni confirmed.