06/03/2006
NEWS STORY
When McLaren unveiled its 2006 'bling' livery recently, there was much speculation as to the amount of red on the car.
With the team having lured Vodafone from Ferrari for a multi-year partnership starting in 2007, there had been speculation that a deal might be done whereby the mobile telecomms giant ended its Italian contract a year ahead of schedule and jump ship to McLaren with immediate effect, but this was not to be.
The red and silver had people confused.
Pitpass is now hearing talk of a possible one-year sponsorship deal the Woking team has secured with Emirates Airlines, which, of course, has red as its corporate colour.
If our sources are correct, the deal will be announced later this week, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Previously, Emirates Airlines has shunned motorsport, in favour of other sports, with soccer being a favourite, indeed the Dubai airline has naming rights to the new Arsenal stadium.
Having previously avoided motorsport, it's understood that the airline was impressed with its involvement in the inaugural A1 GP series, which has directly led - so we are told - to the McLaren deal.