The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team has a new paint design and a new colour

Date: 10/06/2020

Spies Hecker, a global coatings brand from Axalta, presents the new paint design and new colour of the new single-seaters from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team.

The single-seaters of the current Formula 1 World Builder Champion Mercedes-AMG Petronas are really well known for the sleek looks of the iconic silver designs that sport each season. For more than six years, the team has relied on the personalised support and product offerings from Spies Hecker, a global coatings brand from Axalta.

"Fans around the world look forward to seeing the 2020 design, which was unveiled in London in February, on the cars that will race on track this season. But, meanwhile, we want to share some details that may have been overlooked in the new design", said Joachim Hinz, Brand Manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at Spies Hecker.

The paint shop uses different products developed by Spies Hecker. These include Priomat® Wash Primer 4075, Permasolid® Primer-Filler HS Vario 5340 or Permasolid® Filler HS Performance 5320 - a sanding, quick-drying 2K HS filler. The team's colour gradients are painted with Permahyd Hi-TEC Base Water 480 and for the finishing of the components the paint shop uses Permasolid® HS Optimum Plus Clear Coat 8650 or Permasolid HS Race Clear Coat 8700.

A new colour

The main difference of the 2020 paint design is that the burgundy red color has been added to the vehicle, to the front and rear wing endplate, on the engine cover and on the roll bar of the chassis. The introduction of the new colour was possible thanks to the collaboration of the chemical company INEOS, the new main partner of the Brackley team.

An even blacker black

The 2020 design not only contains more black, but the EQ Black tone is also deeper, darker and more intense, giving the new Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Power+ single-seater an even more threatening look.

Matte lines

Another difference is that the gloss lines no longer have the glossy edges as in previous models. All lines now have sharp, clear edges. Andrew comments that "the 2020 design represents an evolution of the glitter lines that have been part of the design since 2017. This year, there is no gradient on the edges." The gloss lines in the PETRONAS striking green, which Axalta custom designed and created for the team in the 2019 season, are outlined with EQ Black. Andrew states that "there is no space in the vehicle where the green PETRONAS and the Stirling Silver coincide.".

A special star

Another novelty is the stars that decorate the engine cover and chassis. They appear in five different sizes and in two different shades of silver. Additionally, there are two special stars, one on each side, that are bright red in honour of Niki Lauda. Andrew points out that "all the stars are painted, and they are not adhesive, as people believe."

Renewed Collaboration

Spies Hecker has expanded its official supplier relationship with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team in early 2020.