Sebastian Vettel in the revamped Scuderi Ferrari branding, featuring the Mission Winnow logo. Credit:Marco Ugarte/AP

Tobacco company branding and logos will be banned entirely from the Melbourne Grand Prix to close a loophole that was exploited by cigarette giant Philip Morris and Ferrari.

Both British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris had planned to promote their corporate brands through logos or slogans emblazoned on cars and uniforms at the race, but both companies dropped their branding after the Andrews government objected.

At the time the companies denied they were promoting any specific products in their advertising.

BAT sought to spruik its “A Better Tomorrow” campaign, which promoted “potentially reduced-risk products” through McLaren, while Ferrari promoted Philip Morris' research division, Mission Winnow.