Kamal Ghorui
McLaren Racing has announced Etihad Airways as its official partner for the 2026 season and beyond. The agreement spans both the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren United Autosports World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar Team.Under the partnership, Etihad branding will feature prominently on the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team race cars as well as the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar.On the Formula 1 car, the branding will appear on the MCL40’s rear wing and halo. The airline’s logo will also be displayed on McLaren driver helmets. The collaboration also includes digital and experiential rights, enabling joint fan engagement initiatives throughout the duration of the agreement.“We’re excited to welcome Etihad Airways as an Official Partner. Etihad’s commitment to delivering high-quality experiences aligns strongly with our values, and we look forward to working closely together across both Formula 1 and WEC,” said Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing. “Today, we are thrilled to team up with McLaren Racing to begin an extraordinary partnership. Formula 1 racing brings together fans from around the world in one of the most exhilarating sports, and we’re excited to see the Etihad brand across the 2026 McLaren car as it competes worldwide,” added Antonoaldo Neves, Group CEO, Etihad Airways.Etihad, the national airline of the UAE will be supporting McLaren’s global operations as the team competes across multiple racing series worldwide. It operates a network of more than 100 destinations, including key Formula 1 host markets such as the UAE, Australia, China, Japan, the UK, Spain, Italy and the US.Later in the year, Etihad will introduce a new aircraft livery featuring McLaren Racing branding. The design will be applied to its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which operates across its international network.Along with venturing into global motorsport, Etihad has served as the title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009.
