Etihad Airways has revealed a special livery in collaboration with McLaren Racing, marking the first time in history that a Formula 1 team’s colors have been featured on a widebody aircraft.
A Visual Milestone Between Commercial Aviation and Motorsport
The flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates transformed one of the flagship aircraft in its fleet, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, incorporating McLaren’s brand identity and iconic papaya colorway. The aircraft not only commemorates the strategic partnership between both brands, but will also carry this livery across the carrier’s global network, connecting its hub in Abu Dhabi with key international destinations, including Dublin, Milan, Vienna, Bali, Bangkok, and Delhi.
The unveiling took place at the Etihad Engineering facility in Abu Dhabi, where an official title verified by Guinness World Records was set for the largest single-piece kabuki drop recorded to date.
Both organizations highlighted the technological and operational synergy driving the agreement:
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways: “Etihad and McLaren Racing are two ambitious global brands with a shared focus on performance and the drive to keep pushing forward. This aircraft will proudly carry that story from our home in Abu Dhabi to cities around the world, bringing our partnership closer to fans wherever it flies and sharing the excitement of Formula 1 with people across our expanding global network.”
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Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing: “It is fantastic to see our partnership with Etihad Airways come to life in such a unique way. The aircraft livery brings together two iconic global brands and will connect McLaren Racing and Etihad with fans and customers worldwide. We can’t wait to see our signature papaya take to the skies.”
Scope of the Strategic Partnership: 2026 and Global Motorsport
The Boeing 787 livery is the latest activation stemming from the commercial partnership announced earlier this year. Etihad serves as an Official Partner of both the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren Hypercar Team for the 2026 season and beyond.
As part of the mutual brand exposure agreement:
- Etihad branding is prominently featured on the team’s race cars, specifically on the rear wing of the MCL40 and on the safety halo.
- The brand is also integrated into the F1 team drivers’ helmets.
- Etihad’s route network directly links Abu Dhabi to key host destinations on the global racing calendar, such as Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and the United States.
This partnership deepens the carrier’s presence in international motorsport, where it has served as the title sponsor of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009—an event set to host the season finale this coming December.
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