The European Public Health Commissioner has claimed that the red, white and black barcode that appears on Ferrari's racing cars and its drivers' overalls, is designed to look like a packet of Marlboro cigarettes, according to The Times.
The Italian manufacturer has opted to remove the image in time for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, despite claims from Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo that any suggestion of subliminal advertising for its sponsor was "ridiculous".
A Ferrari spokesman said: "Together with Philip Morris International, we have decided to modify the livery of our cars starting with the Barcelona Grand Prix."
The spokesman added: "This decision was taken in order to remove all speculation concerning the so-called ‘barcode', which was never intended to be a reference to a tobacco brand. By this, we want to put an end to this ridiculous story and concentrate on more important things than on such groundless allegations."
Tobacco advertising on Formula One team livery has been banned since 2005.
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