Summary
- Qatar Airways partnered with Formula 1 for the Qatar Grand Prix, their second time hosting the race, and sponsored three races this season.
- Qatar Airways unveiled a specially painted Boeing 777-300ER of their Formula 1 livery to support the partnership.
- The aircraft made a flyover on the Grand Prix circuit, impressing spectators with its perfectly executed maneuver before departing for one more flight.
Two months ago in mid-August, Qatar Airways hinted on the reveal of a special livery painted on one in all its Boeing 777-300ERs at the side of a partnership with Formula 1. Then, just a few days ago, the airline welcomed the BTW Alpine F1 Team and more to Doha for the official grand livery showcase ahead of the qualifying race.
With the qualifying done and dusted on Friday and today being the highly anticipated race day, the official global airline partner of Formula 1 and the specially painted aircraft performed a dedicated flyover on the racing circuit on Saturday. An aircraft sighted on the Grand Prix? You definitely read that right.
Photo: Qatar Airways
Return of the Qatar Grand Prix
For under the second time in racing history, the Formula 1 Grand Prix returned to Qatar on the Lusail International Circuit. And at the side of the comeback, Qatar Airways penned a brand new partnership with Formula 1 earlier this yr, whereby the multi-year collaboration will see the airline taking the title sponsorship of three races this season.
These include the Qatar Airways Grand Prix – which takes place from October sixth to the eighth, as one in all the sponsored races this season. The inked partnership can even see Qatar Airways serving as BWT Alpine F1’s official airline partner, as highlighted when the racing team and Formula 1’s Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali were formally invited to Doha’s Hamad International Airport just a few days ago.
The guests were also introduced to a spectacular aircraft showcase during this invitation. This aircraft is none apart from one in all Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ERs registered A7-BEL and has since been painted within the airline’s official Formula 1 livery in support of the continuing partnership. While the aircraft has already been in lively service, its introduction because the Formula 1 aircraft was not indeed emphasized yet. It joins a protracted list of unique F1 liveries over time.
Flying over the circuit
That was, until Saturday when anticipated crowds gathered on the Lusail International Circuit, considering they’d witness live racing actions and nothing else. Because the racing teams did Sping Shootout and Sprint races and racing enthusiasts settled in to soak within the atmosphere, a sudden familiar loud noise was heard looming near the circuit – except it wasn’t the noise of any race automobile.
As everyone looked to the skies, the sight of A7-BEL making its Formula 1 flyover debut was warmly welcomed. The aircraft took off from Doha at roughly 15:41 UTC and landed back at 16:32 UTC for this operation. And as with the airline’s mission for this yr’s race, ‘Driven to Perfection,’ spectators who witnessed the flyby live commented on social media platforms that it was indeed perfectly executed.
Unfortunately, the flyover could only be that swift and short because the aircraft was deployed to operate as QR844 sure for Kuala Lumpur just a few hours later, departing at roughly 20:06 and arriving home to Doha earlier today. Right now of writing, A7-BEL is being prepped for departure to London as QR15.
One other Formula 1 aircraft is incoming
With the Qatar Grand Prix soon ending after tonight’s finals and Max Verstappen crowned the 2023 World Champion, one other Gulf carrier is gearing up for its time to shine within the Formula 1 Grand Prix timetable. Although not slated to start until late November after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the season-closer Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is receiving loads of attention recently.
The brought-up attention isn’t simply because Abu Dhabi retains the contractual right to carry the ultimate race of your entire season but additionally primarily attributable to the hype given by the event’s title race sponsor – Etihad Airways. Like Qatar Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based flag carrier has already painted one in all its flagship aircraft in a singular Formula 1 livery.
This aircraft is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered A6-BLV, painted in what’s generally known as the ‘Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ special colours. It’s currently uncertain if A6-BLV will conduct a flyover over this yr’s Grand Prix race on the Yas Marina Circuit, much like previous years, but the likelihood seems highly likely.