ON THE WRISTS OF CHAMPION DRIVERS

APART FROM BEING OFFICIAL TIMING PARTNERS OF FORMULA ONE TEAMS, WATCHMAKERS ALSO BRING OUT SPECIAL EDITIONS DEDICATED TO RACERS

THE INTERCONNECTED HISTORY of motor racing and the watch industry has given us several horological icons. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and the Omega Speedmaster began their lives as racing chronographs before attaining legendary status for entirely different reasons. TAG Heuer’s Carrera, Autavia, and later Monaco were all connected to motor racing in one way or the other. This association between the two isn’t surprising though, as the results of racing events are entirely dependent on accurate timekeeping, from lap times and pit stops to finishes. The relationship continues to this day and at the highest level of motorsport, with most Formula One teams having a leading watch brand as sponsor. While prominent positioning in the race car livery is one of the benefits, the biggest

OPPOSITE: draw for watch brands from this link is the endorsement by celebrity drivers who have the potential to influence thousands of their admirers. Here we discuss a few watches worn by leading F1 drivers. One simply cannot talk about motor racing and watches without mentioning Rolex and its iconic Cosmograph Daytona Chronograph. The Swiss watchmaker’s ties with the sport date back to the 1930s when Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first driver to break the 300mph barrier driving the ‘Blue Bird’ and wearing a Rolex. The relationship was cemented further in 1959 when Rolex started partnering with the Daytona International Speedway, and named its now legendary chronograph after the racetrack. It was much later, in 2013, that Rolex became associated with Formula One as a Global Partner and the Official Timepiece of the races. Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart and drivers Mark Webber and Jenson Button have all been Rolex ambassadors, and are often spotted wearing the Cosmograph Daytona. Keeping the historic bond between TAG Heuer and motor racing strong are Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez of Red Bull Racing. While both drivers are often spotted wearing various models from TAG Heuer, each has a special edition watch dedicated to them. In 2021, TAG Heuer marked Sergio’s home race, the Mexican Grand Prix, with a special edition Carrera Heuer 02 Tourbillon chronograph, of which only two pieces were produced. While one was presented to Sergio, the other was used to raise funds for the Checo Pérez Foundation. The 45mm timepiece is made of lightweight grade two titanium and coated with diamond-like carbon, in matte black with rose gold accents. TAG Heuer also presented Max Verstappen with a personalised version of the Monaco with the number one on the dial as well as on the case back, in a nod to his race number. Drawing inspiration from the TAG Heuer Monaco “Dark Lord”, this edition of the Monaco is also made with grade two titanium and coated in DLC. The non-limited version of this watch is still available.

Lewis Hamilton, one of the most successful drivers in F1 history, has been spotted wearing various models from IWC Schaffhausen, including the Big Pilot’s Watch, the Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Mojave Desert and the Pilot’s Chronograph 41. While a special edition IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition is dedicated to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team with its bright green and black colouring, the champion racer has a limited edition named after him – the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Lewis Hamilton Edition. The watch has a deep burgundy dial with golden accents and is powered by the 52615 automatic movement, with a whopping 168-hour power reserve. The special watch was limited to 100 pieces and sold out, so if you want to buy it now, you’ll have to hope one pops up in the secondary marketplace.

Aston Martin’s official timing partner is Girard-Perregaux, with the remarkable Aston Martin Three Bridges Tourbillon being a fitting celebration of the tie-up. The Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin takes the partnership to another level, literally, with carbon taken from two of the 2021 season’s actual F1 cars and used in the watch. While Lance Stroll is often seen wearing this watch, Fernando Alonso, who joined the team this year, still mostly sticks with his favourite brand Richard Mille. And why wouldn’t he, when the watchmaker has released a special edition in his honour, the stunningly vibrant RM67-02 Fernando Alonso Edition? Created in the colours of Fernando’s F1 helmet when he was part of the McLaren team, this prototype RM 67-02 is said to be the only one of its kind in the world.

Keep an eye out as the season unfolds to see what other exciting new timepieces will adorn the wrists of these racers. ■

BREITLING BRAND HISTORIAN AND AVID VINTAGE WATCH COLLECTOR FRED MANDELBAUM DELVES INTO THE WORLD OF WATCH GEEKS AND PETROLHEADS. HE DISCUSSES THE BRAND’S EXTENSIONS TO ITS PREMIER AND TOP TIME CLASSIC CARS COLLECTIONS

WORDS DEBBIE HATHWAY

WATCH ENTHUSIASTS and automobile aficionados have a few things in common. For starters, there’s the fascination with high-performance machines for both road and wrist, a love of mechanics, and what high-end watch brand Breitling expert, Fred Mandelbaum, calls a lack of logic when it comes to collecting watches. “There’s only pleasure and desire, which holds true for both [cars and watches],” Fred notes. The chronograph has long been a Breitling speciality. In 1932, Willy Breitling became the brand’s third-generation leader and introduced a game-changing innovation to watchmaking by patenting the second independent pusher at 4 o’clock. Breitling began producing aviation instrumentation and tool watches in 1937, establishing a reputation for precision and reliability. In 1943, they launched the Premier line, combining the precision of a tool watch with the style of a dress watch. Years later, in 2021, Breitling reintroduced the Premier Heritage chronograph collection, and this year the brand added six new references to the Premier assortment, all powered by the self-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. “The Premier range represents the move from tool watch to personal luxury. We took that pilot’s watch and gave it pizzazz, exuberance and elegance. And that’s what the Premier represents,” says Fred. The Top Time line, he explains, was a response to a crisis. The 40s were huge for chronographs – everybody wanted one –but dive watches became the accessory du jour a decade later. In the early 60s, the chronograph needed a repositioning to appeal to the emerging youth market. “The chronograph was maybe too elegant and didn’t catch the spirit of the swinging 60s – a period of good times and economic growth,” he says.