McLaren team boss Zak Brown commented: “We’re incredibly pleased and proud to be able to race a special one-off livery for Fernando in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

“We want his last grand prix to feel special in every way, and this was just one of the ways we could reflect that.

“We worked closely and collaboratively with Fernando, and then with the FIA and Formula 1, to make the change for this one race and they were all hugely supportive of the move.

“Hopefully, this will give Fernando’s fans a little something extra to look forward to at what is bound to be an especially emotional weekend.”

Alonso’s one-off livery will be the first McLaren has used since the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix, when Keke Rosberg’s car was changed from the usual red-and-white Marlboro livery to a yellow-and-white scheme.