
Just as Ferrari was celebrating Charles Leclerc’s unexpected pole positions in Monaco and Baku, one of the Scuderia’s important, long-term sponsors was dealing with a surprise of rather more significant proportions. A court ruling which sent out shockwaves.
While we are used to court cases involving the tobacco industry, this time it was not Maranello’s friends at Philip Morris who were in the dock. Instead, it was Shell which found itself at the wrong end of a ruling.
More from GP Racing

How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
The story of Ken Tyrrell's team How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1

The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
The line-up Ocon, Gasly may emulate The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate

Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who were the fastest F1 drivers? Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?

Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
The 50 quickest drivers in history Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?

What difference did F1's fastest pitstops of 2022 make?
What difference did pitstops make? What difference did F1's fastest pitstops of 2022 make?

When F1 'holiday' races kept drivers busy through the winter
When holiday races kept drivers busy When F1 'holiday' races kept drivers busy through the winter

The crypto sponsor collapse that shocked F1
The crypto collapse that shocked F1 The crypto sponsor collapse that shocked F1

The factors behind Vettel’s priority shift in his final F1 chapter
What led to Vettel's priority shift The factors behind Vettel’s priority shift in his final F1 chapter
Latest news

Schumacher radio criticism highlighted F1 privacy change for Russell
Schumacher radio criticism highlighted F1 privacy change for Russell Schumacher radio criticism highlighted F1 privacy change for Russell

Alesi: “Politics”, not F1, to blame for French GP exit
Alesi: “Politics”, not F1, to blame for French GP exit Alesi: “Politics”, not F1, to blame for French GP exit

How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1 How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1

Verstappen explains “absurd” F1 sim in private jet story
Verstappen explains “absurd” F1 sim in private jet story Verstappen explains “absurd” F1 sim in private jet story

How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
The story of Ken Tyrrell's team How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1

Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Assessing Hamilton's Mercedes stint Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver

Why new-look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
Why new-look Haas is a litmus test Why new-look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era

The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
Assessing Wolff's Mercedes influence The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff

The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
The line-up Ocon, Gasly may emulate The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate

Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who were the fastest F1 drivers? Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?

Nico Hulkenberg: Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return
Why Hulkenberg is ready for return Nico Hulkenberg: Why F1's nearly man is refreshed and ready for his return

Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
Why Vasseur relishes the pressure Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.