Etihad: Official Partner of McLaren for 2026 Season

‍KHALIFA CITY — McLaren Racing has named Etihad Airways (EY) as an Official Partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar Team starting in 2026 and beyond, linking the airline’s global network with McLaren’s multi-series racing calendar.

Under the agreement, Etihad branding will appear on the McLaren F1 car (including the MCL40’s rear wing and halo) and on driver helmets, with additional digital and experiential rights for fan activations throughout the season. (McLaren)

Etihad also plans to introduce a special McLaren-branded livery on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner later this year. The partnership builds on Etihad’s long-running motorsport presence, including its title sponsorship of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (gateway: Abu Dhabi, AUH) since 2009.

This partnership enhances Etihad’s premium positioning. F1 and WEC offer global exposure in key growth markets, while the co-branded 787 livery serves as a mobile advertisement across Etihad’s network.

Exposure Exposure Exposure

Airlines tend to partner with F1 teams (and/or F1 races) because the sport is a globe-spanning “traveling roadshow” that maps cleanly onto airline network marketing: year-round international visibility, premium hospitality, and a steady pipeline of high-value customers (corporate travel, loyalty members, and affluent leisure).

The activations usually go beyond logos—think co-branded content, VIP experiences, tour packages, and sometimes even special aircraft liveries (like Etihad’s planned McLaren-branded Boeing 787).

“Tier Ranking” of How Airlines Show Up in F1

1. F1-wide Airline Partner (Global) – biggest umbrella visibility across the championship (branding, rights, and integration). Example: Qatar Airways (QR) is Formula 1’s “Official Airline and Global Partner” through 2027 (Formula 1 official website).
2. Race Title Sponsor / Event Partner – owns the naming of a specific Grand Prix and gets destination-focused exposure. Example: Singapore Airlines (SQ) is title sponsor of the Singapore GP through 2028; Etihad (EY) has long been title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi GP.
3. Team Partner (Official Partner) – branding on the car/kit plus hospitality and joint campaigns tied to that team’s fanbase. Examples: Etihad (EY) ↔ McLaren (from 2026), and Qatar Airways (QR) ↔ Alpine (official airline partner).

Net: race sponsorship sells the destination, team sponsorship sells the brand personality, and F1-wide deals sell global scale—which is why you’ll often see airlines stack more than one of these at once.