As partners since 2008, AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes and the McLaren Formula 1 Team have a shared focus on outstanding performance and pioneering innovation. That spirit of excellence now takes center stage with the launch of Sikkens Autowave® Optima, the new-generation waterborne basecoat designed to deliver greater efficiency and sustainability for body shops.

To mark this milestone in vehicle refinishing, AkzoNobel’s Sikkens brand and the McLaren Formula 1 Team collaborated to produce a campaign filmed at the McLaren Technology Centre, with McLaren Formula 1 Team driver Lando Norris.

Stepping into the spray booth, Lando is faced with a new test: The Sikkens Spray Challenge, set by the AkzoNobel technical team. With protective gear on, the McLaren F1 Team driver tests his application skills by spraying a car panel in the infamous McLaren ‘Papaya’ orange, as he demonstrates how the basecoat is applied easily.

The one-stop application means that Lando can create his fade design without leaving the spray booth and waiting for the first layer to dry – and this is where process times for bodyshops can be saved by up to 50% – Lando is able to achieve perfect coverage in just 1.5 layers, instead of the conventional 2 layers, due to its high pigmentation. With the basecoat so easy to apply and blend, he adds the finishing touches: a striking black fireworks effect across the full panel.

With Sikkens Autowave Optima, no flash-off is required between coats so application is faster and enables body shops to save 60% less energy than a conventional basecoat, based on AkzoNobel’s internal benchmark testing, along with 380 g/l VOC (10% lower than the 420 g/l legislation).

This new technology from AkzoNobel demonstrates that sustainability, productivity and profit can exist in harmony. And, with consistent high-quality results, and superior colour accuracy, it will also help bodyshops meet the growing demands for speed, sustainability, and outstanding finishes in today’s fast-paced environment.

Patrick Bourguignon, business director, Automotive & Specialty Coatings at AkzoNobel says: “Our partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 Team is built on a shared commitment to precision, speed, and innovation – values that also define Autowave Optima. With this next-generation basecoat, we’re setting a new standard for productivity in the bodyshop. The launch marks an exciting milestone not just for AkzoNobel, but for our customers across the globe who are ready to take their own performance to the next level.”

Sikkens Autowave Optima is available across selected EMEA markets and North America, for bodyshops looking to multiply their productivity and increase bodyshop performance.  This will be followed by selected Asia markets in 2026.