Qatar Airways (QR) unveiled its striking new Formula 1®-themed livery during the 2025 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit (LIC), Doha. The launch took place on November 29–30 during the Grand Prix weekend, marked by a dramatic flypast, media preview flight, and a star-studded hangar reveal — all to celebrate the airline’s role as Title Partner of Formula 1®.
The aircraft — a Boeing 777 registered A7-BEG — now sports a bold maroon, black, and white livery designed by Grammy-winning artist Swizz Beatz, merging motorsport’s speed ethos with aviation elegance. The new scheme will appear on global routes this winter, signaling a unique crossover between air travel and F1 culture.
Airline Profile: Qatar Airways
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 (operations from 1994) |
| Headquarters | Doha, Qatar |
| Primary Hub | Hamad International Airport (DOH), Doha |
| Fleet Size (approx.) | 238 aircraft |
| Aircraft Types Operated | Airbus A320 family, A330 (cargo), A350-900/1000, A380-800, Boeing 777-200LR/300ER, 777F, 787-8/9 |
| Global Network | 170+ destinations across six continents |
| Alliance / Partnerships | Oneworld alliance member since 2013 |
| Ownership | Fully owned by the Government of Qatar |
| CEO | Badr Mohammed Al Meer (Group Chief Executive) |
| Awards | Multiple-time Skytrax “World’s Best Airline” winner |
| Service Reputation | Recognized for premium cabin quality, exceptional inflight service, and modern fleet |
The reveal began with a dazzling flypast over LIC before Saturday’s Sprint race, during which media and invited guests watched from inside the aircraft. The onboard flight employed Starlink “gate-to-gate” high-speed Wi-Fi to livestream the event — a first-of-its-kind demonstration of aviation-meets-live-broadcast capability.
Later, the aircraft rolled into the airline’s hangar for a dramatic unveiling. Comedian Kevin Hart made a theatrical entrance as an F1 driver performing celebratory “doughnuts” — a spectacle that underscored the energy and showmanship of the launch.
The celebration drew international celebrities and sports icons, including:
- David Beckham
- Novak Djokovic
- Jessica Alba
- Rio Ferdinand
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
The custom livery, created under the airline’s newly launched “Creative 100” cultural initiative, blends the visual language of F1 — speed, motion, sleek lines — with aviation design sophistication. The paint scheme features a clean white forward fuselage that transitions into deep maroon and black at the tail, with the F1 logo and stylized oryx emblem forming a dynamic aesthetic resonant of both performance and heritage.
On the occassion of the reveal, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Group, said:
“This weekend, Qatar Airways brought together innovation and passion by engaging with leading forces in the fields of sport and arts to offer an unmatched community experience. The debut of our latest F1 livery drew a massive interest from sport enthusiasts, creatives, and aviation buffs – making our flypast the most tracked flight for an entire 24-hour cycle on Flightradar24. Judging by the global reaction we have already seen; I can confidently say that this F1 design will go down in history as one of the most iconic aircraft liveries in global aviation.”
The following table gives us an idea about the person behind the Qatar’s newest livery, which featured as AirlineGeeks’ “Livery of the Week” too:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kasseem Daoud Dean |
| Stage name | Swizz Beatz |
| Birthplace | Bronx, New York, USA |
| Profession(s) | Music producer, artist, Harvard Business School graduate |
| Major achievements | Grammy Award–winning producer; multi-decade career in entertainment, art, and branding |
| Notable initiatives | Co-founder of The Dean Collection with Alicia Keys |
| Art involvement | Creator of a major private family art collection exhibited globally |
| Museum highlight | Subject of the 2024 Brooklyn Museum exhibition “Giants” |
| Exhibition reach | Over 500,000 attendees across three shows |
| Exhibition outlook | Scheduled for continued international exhibitions thro |
Why Qatar’s 777 with F1 Livery Matters?
This livery rollout arrives as Qatar Airways celebrates being named “World’s Best Airline” by Skytrax for the ninth time in 2025, reinforcing its brand as a leader in global connectivity, luxury, and experiential travel.
Beyond aesthetics, the program reflects QR’s broader cultural strategy through its Creative 100 platform — a global initiative uniting artists, designers, musicians, and innovators to shape the passenger experience beyond traditional aviation norms. The F1 livery acts as the initiative’s first tangible expression.
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Qatar’s Previous special-livery examples
| # | Special livery name | Year introduced | Aircraft type | Registration (example) | Key purpose / theme | Notable details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expo 2023 Doha livery | 2023 | Airbus A330-300 | (A330 fleet example; article does not specify exact reg) | Promote Expo 2023 “Green Desert, Better Environment” | Featured horticulture-themed artwork; introduced exclusive inflight menu, Expo-themed IFE, dedicated Expo channel. |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) livery | 2020 | Boeing 777-300ER | A7-BED (Champions Trophy) | Promote partnership with PSG (extended to 2028) | Blue-red PSG colors; football-themed artwork; silhouette of footballer kicking PSG-logo ball; included travel package tie-ups with Qatar Airways Holidays and Qatar Duty Free. |
| 3 | Formula 1® partnership livery | 2023 (after Emirates ended sponsorship) | Boeing 777-300ER | A7-BEL | Celebrate Qatar Airways becoming Official Global Airline Partner of Formula 1 | Black-maroon-purple racing-inspired wrap; F1 logo on aft fuselage; linked to sponsorship of three races; unveiled by Qatar Airways Group CEO. |
| 4 | Retro 25th Anniversary livery | 2022 | Boeing 777-300ER | (Example used: 25th anniversary aircraft on DOH–CDG) | Mark 25 years of Qatar Airways operations | Recreation of the airline’s first livery; dual-language titles switching sides; showcased at key international routes including Doha–Paris. |
| 5 | FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ livery | 2020 (active through 2022) | Boeing 777 (likely 777-300ER) | A7-BEB | Promote Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup | Featured trophy and tournament graphics; aircraft performed flyover of all eight stadiums pre-tournament; linked to fan travel packages and Privil |
[Read about these liveries in detail in our guide here: Qatar Airways: 5 Special Liveries Used By The Middle Eastern Airline – Avio Space]
When the partnership between Qatar Airways and Swizz Beatz was revealed last month, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, had remarked that the collaboration showed “a shared belief that creativity has the power to inspire, to unite, and to transform the way the world connects“, and that through the Creative 100, the two were celebrating “those whose ideas shape culture, bringing people together through creativity and artistry across borders.’
The Dean Collection Co-Founder, Swizz Beatz, had remarked:
‘Qatar Airways doesn’t just move people, it moves the world. That’s why this partnership feels so natural. Together, we’re creating a platform that shines a light on the most inspiring people of our time. The Qatar Airways Creative 100, in collaboration with The Dean Collection, is the first step.’
Aircraft Painting: Why are Aircraft Painted White and (Exceptions)
All in All: What’s next for Qatar’s Triple Seven with F1 livery?
The specially liveried Boeing 777 (A7-BEG) (Boeing 777-300ER) is scheduled to fly to major global destinations this winter, including London, Melbourne, New York and Tokyo. Data from planespotters.net reveals that Qatar has 57 aircraft of this type in its fleet. Here’s how the carrier has configures the aircrat with the F1 livery:
| Feature | Business Class | Economy Class |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Type | Collins Aerospace MiniPods | Recaro CL3710 slimline seats |
| Seating Layout | 2–2–2 | 3–4–3 |
| Total Seats | 42 | 316 |
| Bed/Seat Function | Converts to a 78″ fully flat bed | Standard recline (5″) |
| Seat Width | 20″ | 17.1″ |
| Pitch | Not specified | 32″ |
| Headrest | Not specified | 4-way adjustable headrest |
| Storage | Secure low-level storage pocket | Standard seat pocket |
| Tray Table | Standard business table | Retractable bi-folding table |
| IFE Screen Size | 12″ HD touchscreen | 10.6″ HD touchscreen |
| Power Supply | Universal 110V AC + USB-A | 110V universal AC + USB |
| Comfort Level | Premium lie-flat experience | Standard long-haul comfort |
Data: aerolopa
With 2026 knocking on our doors, Qatar might also reveal a new special theme livery for the Football World Cup next year.
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Qatar Airways announced a global collaboration with Art Basel, one of the most influential contemporary art fairs in the world. As the fair’s Premium Partner, the airline will now support Art Basel’s flagship events in:
- Basel
- Paris
- Hong Kong
- Miami Beach
With the Football World Cup 2026 just around the corner, perhaps the football themed livery for this event will be the Middle east giant’s next big sporting livery.