Etihad Airways Drapes Boeing 787 in McLaren's Fiery Orange Ahead of 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

In anticipation of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Etihad Airways has officially unveiled a striking McLaren Racing livery adorning one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The commercial jet now sports the racing brand's signature vibrant orange hue, complete with distinctive masking around the cockpit windows and Etihad's iconic tail design. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first instance of a Formula One team's branding being applied to a wide-body aircraft.

The unveiling ceremony took place at Etihad Engineering’s facility in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Attendees included Etihad chairman Mohammed Al Shorafa, Etihad chief executive Antonoaldo Neves, McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown, and former F1 driver Mika Hakkinen. This collaboration represents a pioneering moment, being the first time a Formula One team's branding graces a wide-body aircraft.

During the event, Neves expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming Abu Dhabi Formula One weekend, scheduled from December 3 to 6, which will conclude the racing season. He shared his aspiration of seeing both McLaren drivers on the podium and hinted at attempting a fly-by, stating, "I don't know if I'm going to have the opportunity to do that but I'll try hard." Brown added a touch of humor, remarking, "I'm looking forward to seeing this beautiful plane flying around and being able to ask the other teams, 'Where is your plane?'" He also conveyed his excitement for the race in Abu Dhabi, noting that Formula One shares this enthusiasm.

The ceremony achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest single-piece kabuki reveal, a theatrical method used for dramatic unveilings. The Dreamliner is slated for its inaugural flight on Tuesday, heading to Madrid as Flight EY103 at 2:15 PM, followed by a return journey between Abu Dhabi and Jakarta in the subsequent days.