Surface World March 2019 SW_March_2019_LR | Page 6
INDUSTRY NEWS
AkzoNobel sparks 2019 season into
life for McLaren Formula 1 team
Exciting new racing
talent is being fused with
AkzoNobel’s latest colour
technology by the McLaren
Formula 1 team, who today
unveiled their new car
livery for the 2019 season.
Young racing talents Lando Norris and
Carlos Sainz will take charge of the dazzling
MCL34, which features a fresh twist on the
Papaya Spark design that debuted last year.
Developed by AkzoNobel’s Sikkens brand,
the coatings system offers numerous
performance and sustainability benefits,
all with significantly reduced emissions.
Scientists and technicians at McLaren and
AkzoNobel have gone the extra mile ever
since the partnership began. For the new
season, they’ve worked together to develop
new, technologically advanced coatings
features designed to specially modify the
surface characteristics. This will help to
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reduce drag and contaminant adhesion,
as well as improve surface slip and
durability – which should ultimately
increase performance on and off the track.
“We’re really excited about the new
system we’ve developed with the experts
at McLaren,” says Peter Tomlinson, Director
of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty
Coatings business. “Both of us believe in
the relentless pursuit of excellence and the
technical teams have done an amazing job.
The 2019 car looks fantastic and is a brilliant
example of innovation in the fast lane.”
This season’s livery retains Papaya Spark as
the primary color, but the blue is a slightly
different shade. Known as Vega Blue, it’s an
existing McLaren OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) colour.
The 2019 coatings system offers numerous
performance and sustainability benefits, such
as the latest UV curing primer technology,
low film weight, a water-based colour coat
and super-fast clearcoat.
Adds Simon Roberts, Chief Operating Officer
at McLaren Racing: “The MCL34 once again
looks brilliant in its distinctive Papaya Spark
MARCH 2019
livery. Our work in the off-season with our
trusted partner of ten years, AkzoNobel,
has resulted in a significant 14% savings
of Papaya Spark compared with last year’s
livery. Together we are constantly looking
to make marginal gains on and off the track
and to challenge our teams to innovate and
find new technical developments. I’m really
pleased with this season’s result.”
Continues Tomlinson: “A lot of time has been
spent on chasing even the most marginal
gains. The teams focused in particular on
further paint weight reduction and process
improvements to increase the throughput of
the paint shop between races.”
The 2019 driving line-up might be new,
but AkzoNobel and McLaren have been
working closely together since 2008,
when the company’s premium Sikkens
brand first became the official supplier
of paint solutions to the McLaren F1 team.
The first Grand Prix of the new season took
place in Melbourne, Australia, on March 17.
For more information please visit
www.akzonobel.com
read online: www.surfaceworld.com