The governing body of motor sport has indicated that tobacco advertising and sponsorship in Formula One could be banned within five years.

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), says it is prepared to act before a European Directive comes into force in 2006 if it is proved that tobacco advertising makes people smoke.

The FIA, based in Paris, has said there is no proof that advertising increases consumption and has resisted a ban to protect a source of income that brings around £200m a year into Formula One.

Max Mosley, president of FIA, said the governing body was prepared to study evidence presented by the British and other governments.

He said the FIA was already discussing the issue with the World Health Organisation.

Ban 'could take effect in 2002'

"The FIA has consistently said that, if presented with evidence of a direct link between tobacco advertising, sponsorship and smoking, it would act to eliminate tobacco advertising and sponsorship from Formula One," he said.

"It is thought by several governments that they can make such evidence available. We have always said that if they did we would look at introducing a ban ourselves on a world-wide basis.

"The FIA could bring in a world-wide ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship in the Formula One World Championship on expiry of the current Concorde Agreement between the FIA and the teams in 2002.

"Such a ban, which could take effect before the deadline set in the EC Directive, would apply to all Formula One Grands Prix, including those held outside the European Union."

Mr Mosley had said previously that if a European-wide ban was enforced by EC governments then it would inevitably lead to an increase in races in countries, particularly Asia, where no ban was in force.

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