Formula One and watches are natural bedfellows. I mean, yes, we could yammer on about how they are both committed to the precision of timing, and how every millisecond could be in the difference between winning and losing – but let’s be honest, most of us aren’t professional racing drivers, therefore one of the most important elements of any F1-timepiece collab is how it looks. Here are our pick of the bunch…
Red Bull Racing x TAG Heuer
Helmed by two-time world champ Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 champions are going into the season as the team to beat (again). This is also the case with its long-term timekeeping partnership with TAG Heuer, which started in 2016. The Swiss watchmaker’s history is deeply rooted in motorsport thanks to its historical mastery of chronographs, and numerous timepieces dedicated to classic motorsport monikers: Monza, Monaco and Carrera. This season expect to see a new addition of its popular Quartz-powered TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Red Bull Racing Special Edition chronograph.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas x IWC
With eight championship titles between 2014 and 2021, Mercedes-AMG Petronas have won more consecutive titles than any other team in Formula 1 history. While star driver Lewis Hamilton deserves much of the credit for this, the driver himself is quick to point out that his success hinges on the team of more than 900 engineers, designers, mechanics, and support staff working behind the scenes. This teamwork is the inspiration for the new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” — the watchmaker’s first timepiece dedicated to the entire team.
Scuderia Ferrari x Richard Mille
It has been said that without Ferrari, does Formula One even exist? The answer, of course, is ‘yes’, but the point is made all the same. Ferrari has long been F1’s superlative brand, which makes sense that its debut timepiece collaboration with ultra-luxury watchmaker Richard Mille comes with a world record. Released last year, the RM UP-01 Ferrari became the world’s thinnest watch, measuring at just 1.75mm thick. Inspired by the technical prowess of each other the ultra-thin timepiece exemplifies a new approach to watch mechanics in which technicity more than ever dictates aesthetics.
Aston Martin x Girard Perregaux
Most of us aren’t professional racing drivers, therefore one of the most important elements of any F1-timepiece collab is how it looks. Cue the new Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition from Girard-Perregaux. With its British ‘racing green’ livery, the Aston Martin team has arguably the coolest looking car on the Formula One grid. So, as the Swiss watchmaker rightfully has decided: if you’ve got it, flaunt it. The material used in the 44mm case is a first for the watch industry using a blend of titanium powder and carbon elements taken from last year’s Aston Martin F1 race cars. The result is a case that has a look similar to forged carbon fibre, but a closer look will reveal subtle green touches in the material that match the watch’s dial and the livery of the racing car.
Alpine x Bell&Ross
Last year the French racing team, Renault, changed its name to Alpine – in order to give more name recognition to the car maker’s range of sports cars. But while the name may have changed, it continued its partnership with the Parisian watchmaker Bell&Ross.
Bell&Ross took advantage of this change in branding to alter the look of its F1-themed collection quite drastically. Removing Renault’s famed yellow as the predominant colour of the range, replacing it with Alpine’s ice blue colourway for its BR 03-92 A522 model.
