Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways, on Monday, unveiled a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring McLaren Racing’s distinctive papaya livery, marking the first time a Formula 1 team’s branding has appeared on a wide-body commercial aircraft.

“Great things are not built by chance, but through patience, precision, resilience and a long-term view,” said Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, at the aircraft’s unveiling in Abu Dhabi.

“Tonight is a proud moment as we bring together two leading companies in a partnership built on that shared ambition. Few partners understand that principle better than McLaren,” he said.

Drawing parallels between the two industries, Al Shorafa said Formula 1 and aviation both depended on teams that prepared relentlessly, trusted each other and never stopped improving.

The aircraft, unveiled at Etihad Engineering’s facility in Abu Dhabi, features McLaren’s distinctive branding and papaya colours.…