Velo is one of several brands launched by McLaren sponsor British American Tobacco to pivot from cigarettes to tobacco-free nicotine products such as Velo’s flavored nicotine pouches and Vuse brand e-cigarettes. .
In April this year, the Dutch government announced a growing list of European countries to ban the sale of all types of nicotine pouches, citing health concerns, particularly the easy availability of addictive snus pouches and vapes to minors. joined.
Importantly, however, Dutch legislation banning the advertising of nicotine pouches is still in progress, meaning McLaren can legally carry the Velo brand in Zandvoort. there is
“All branding on McLaren race cars is fully compliant with the regulatory requirements and advertising standards of the countries in which we race,” a team spokesperson confirmed to Motorsport.com.
This legal vacuum led to a formal complaint from a group of Dutch health organizations such as the Dutch Heart Foundation and the KWF Dutch Cancer Society to the Dutch Advertising Law Commission.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60
Photo credit: Eric Junius
“The tobacco industry is doing everything in its power to sustain youth addiction in order to keep this nasty and deadly business going,” KWF Dutch Cancer Society board member Karla van Gils said in a press release. It shows that again,” he said. .
“I find it strange that they are allowed to promote prohibited products.”
McLaren’s flagship Velo branding will appear on the sidepods at all but seven races in 2023 and will be replaced by cryptocurrency company OKX.
At Zandvoort, the car will be branded as “LOVE” as part of a fan contest. The company has launched a random draw on its social media channels, revealing 60 fans will add their names to the MCL60 raced by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
One entrant will also win a trip to the Dutch Grand Prix.
Smoking alternatives are still largely unregulated in many countries. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of all nicotine products to persons under the age of 21. But unlike e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches are not yet classified as tobacco-related products in the UK and can legally be sold to people under the age of 18.
Velo’s Dutch Grand Prix Fan Contest was only open to fans over the age of 18.