AkzoNobel will continue as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’s exclusive coatings partner, and will also join the McLaren United Autosports Hypercar Team as it prepares for next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
AkzoNobel
and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team have extended their long-standing and highly successful partnership, with plans to expand into the world of endurance racing.
The two organisations first joined forces in 2008 and share a steadfast commitment to high performance and pioneering innovation, a collaboration that last year saw the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team secure both the F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles.
“We’re incredibly excited to continue and extend our collaboration with such a long-standing and valued partner. Our search for better never stops, so we’ll carry on working together to push boundaries and explore new possibilities in the areas of sustainability, technological innovation and product development,” has stated Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business.
“AkzoNobel has been a trusted partner for McLaren for nearly two decades and we’re excited to take that collaboration to the next level. Partners who share our passion for performance and innovation are key to achieving success and we look forward to working together as we enter the World Endurance Championship,” has stated Matt Dennington, Co-Chief Commercial Officer at McLaren Racing.
The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is a global sports car racing series focused on long-distance events that test reliability, strategy and team performance. The Hypercar category, introduced in 2021, represents the top class in the WEC. The Championship includes the iconic Le Mans 24-hour race, which McLaren Racing won on its debut in 1995. McLaren’s 2026 Mastercard F1 car is set to be unveiled on 9 February, with pre-season testing scheduled to begin in Bahrain on 12 February and the first Grand Prix of the season taking place in Australia on 8 March.