Helmets are vital in Formula One. The regulations require them to be designed to withstand high stresses and temperatures of up to 900°C (1652°F).
But ensuring that they also look great is the job of the
driver and their helmet designer. Jens Munser works with
the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One driver
Nico Rosberg to design his helmet and uses the Hi-TEC
Performance System from Spies Hecker, one of the global
refinish brands of Axalta Coating Systems.
Helmets offer protection, but also share the limelight
with the Formula One race car drivers. Helmets are one
of the most visible parts of drivers’ gear when they are in
the cockpit of their race cars, and the only real estate the
drivers can personalize with their own designs. Munser has
been in this business for 27 years, and today he and his
team are among the most well-respected Formula One hel-
met designers.
“The paint process is very different from that of cars,”
Munser said when describing the challenging job of painting
helmets. “We first produce graphic elements on the computer
and transfer these to templates. Then, before the actual paint,
we also apply a fire-proof primer.”
Munser uses the Spies Hecker Permahyd Hi-TEC Base Coat
480, with special effects achieved thanks to gold leaf, glitter
flakes or transfer printing. Munser then uses Spies Hecker
fast-drying Permasolid Speed Clear Coat 8800 or the efficient
Permasolid Clear Coat 8035. The multiple paint layers, which
must not exceed 500 grams in total, are used to create the
unique helmet design in a process that takes anywhere between
eight and 20 hours of work. CW
Axalta’s Global Refinish Brand Spies Hecker
Coats Iconic Formula One Racing Helmets
