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Etihad Airways has deepened its footprint in global motorsport by becoming an Official Partner of McLaren Racing from the 2026 season, aligning the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s fast-growing route network with one of Formula 1’s most storied teams and the World Endurance Championship hypercar grid.
A Multi-Year Partnership Built Around Global Mobility
Announced on February 26, 2026, the agreement will see Etihad serve as an Official Partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar Team from 2026 and beyond. The collaboration brings together two brands that position performance, innovation and premium experiences at the heart of their identities, and formalises a relationship that has been building through Etihad’s long-standing sponsorship of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
At its core, the deal is about connecting racing calendars to real-world travel flows. McLaren now competes across Formula 1 and endurance racing on multiple continents, while Etihad operates to more than 100 destinations worldwide. By fusing those footprints, the airline is betting that motorsport’s global fan base can be transformed into loyal flyers, especially on routes linking Europe, Asia, Australia and North America through Abu Dhabi.
The partnership is structured as a multi-year agreement that begins formally with the 2026 racing season. That timing positions Etihad to take advantage of the next cycle of Formula 1 regulations and the continued expansion of endurance racing, while giving both brands runway to build layered fan experiences, from airport touchpoints to trackside activations.
Executives at both companies framed the tie-up as a natural fit. McLaren Racing chief Zak Brown highlighted Etihad’s capability to move teams and equipment efficiently around the world, while Etihad Group chief executive Antonoaldo Neves emphasised the airline’s ambition to connect fans to what he described as one of the most exhilarating sports on the planet.
Branding in the Sky and on the Track
Visible branding is a central pillar of the alliance. From 2026, Etihad’s logo will appear prominently on the McLaren MCL40 Formula 1 car, including on the rear wing and halo, as well as on the helmets of the team’s drivers. Similar branding will extend to the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar entry, ensuring that the airline’s presence is seen in both sprint and endurance formats throughout the year.
This exposure is designed to deliver consistent visibility across the full Formula 1 calendar rather than concentrating the brand’s profile solely on its home event in Abu Dhabi. With McLaren’s cars routinely featured in global broadcasts and digital coverage, Etihad gains a high-impact moving billboard at each race weekend, backed by a rapidly growing online audience for both teams and drivers.
The partnership will not be confined to the paddock. Later in 2026, Etihad plans to unveil a special McLaren-themed livery on one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The co-branded widebody will fly regular commercial routes, turning the collaboration into a mobile showcase that passengers can experience first-hand. For aviation and motorsport enthusiasts alike, the aircraft is likely to become a sought-after sight on the tarmac and in the sky.
Beyond static logos, the agreement includes extensive digital and experiential rights. That provides scope for jointly curated fan content, behind-the-scenes storytelling and interactive campaigns that link Etihad’s travel platforms with McLaren’s global supporter base, reinforcing the connection between booking a flight and following a team through a long season.
Connecting Key Racing Destinations Through Abu Dhabi
Geography is a major reason this partnership matters for travel. Etihad’s network already spans many of the cities that anchor the Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship calendars, from Abu Dhabi and other Gulf hubs to leading markets such as Australia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and the United States. As racing schedules continue to globalise, having a single carrier able to plug into so many host destinations offers tangible logistical advantages.
For McLaren, Etihad’s role goes beyond moving cars and equipment. The airline becomes a strategic transport partner for team personnel, corporate guests and invited fans, offering coordinated itineraries and tailored hospitality around race weekends. For Etihad, every race becomes an opportunity to promote Abu Dhabi as a convenient connecting hub, turning motorsport’s international footprint into a feeder for its own long-haul services.
Industry analysts see the alliance as part of a wider trend in which Gulf carriers deepen their engagement with major sports properties to underpin tourism strategies. Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in positioning itself as a destination built around major events, cultural districts and family entertainment, with Yas Island and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as flagship attractions. Aligning more tightly with a front-running Formula 1 team extends that narrative beyond a single weekend in November.
The synergy is expected to be particularly strong on routes that link traditional motorsport strongholds, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, with emerging leisure markets in the Middle East and Asia. As race itineraries criss-cross regions, Etihad’s role as both a facilitator of team travel and a preferred carrier for fans gives Abu Dhabi a clear stake in the sport’s global momentum.
Tourism, Hospitality and the Fan Experience
As Etihad becomes more embedded in the McLaren ecosystem, the impact is set to spill over into tourism and hospitality providers across Abu Dhabi and other gateway cities. Event-driven travel has already proven its ability to lift hotel occupancy, dining revenues and entertainment spending during race weeks, particularly on Yas Island. Year-round collaboration with a team like McLaren could help smooth out peaks and extend stays, especially if fans are encouraged to combine races with broader itineraries.
Industry observers note that motorsport visitors are typically high-value travellers who prioritise premium experiences and are open to booking curated packages. Through the new partnership, Etihad is well positioned to bundle flights with access to paddock events, track tours, branded merchandise and stays at partner hotels, creating layered trip profiles that blend sport with culture and leisure.
For McLaren supporters, the potential upside lies in more seamless journeys to the circuits they follow. Whether they are flying from London to Melbourne or from New York to Abu Dhabi, coordinated offers and consistent branding can make the travel experience feel like an extension of race day itself. The challenge for both brands will be to deliver these benefits at scale without losing the sense of exclusivity and access that fans increasingly expect.
The move also underscores how airlines are using high-profile sports alliances to differentiate themselves in a competitive long-haul market. With carriers across Europe, the Gulf and Asia aligning with clubs, leagues and racing series, the Etihad McLaren partnership signals that the race to capture the loyalty of traveling sports fans is accelerating just as quickly as the action on the track.