Cover IWC Schaffhausen sponsors the fictional APXGP racing team in Apple Original Films’ F1 (Photo: courtesy of IWC)
IWC Schaffhausen sponsors the fictional APXGP racing team in Apple Original Films’ F1 (Photo: courtesy of IWC)
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Watches have a clear role in the world of motorsports, a setting where every second counts
Whether to set records or to break them, man has laboured to reach the pinnacle of speed, in a cyclical test of human spirit and ingenuity. And there is no greater stage for this quest than the racetrack, where horology has been deeply involved from the first Tag Heuer dashboard timers to the early Rolex timepieces on racers’ wrists. Every split second counts, and it can mean all the difference between standing on the podium or watching from the sidelines. It is unsurprising, then, that motorsports’ popularity has surged in recent years, as our eyes naturally fall on those who endeavour past their limits. But at the heart is its profound relationship with watches and the pieces it inspired.
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Tag Heuer
Above Tag Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph in green and stainless steel (Photo: courtesy of Tag Heuer)
Above Tag Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph in sleek black (Photo: courtesy of Tag Heuer)
Tag Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph in green and stainless steel (Photo: courtesy of Tag Heuer)
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Returning to Formula 1’s 2025 season as its official timekeeper, Tag Heuer arrives with a high octane watch to match. The Tag Heuer Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph F1 flaunts a hand-finished all-ceramic square case that houses the Calibre TH81-00, viewable through the sapphire crystal back. Embodying the spirit of the track, it also features the iconic lines “Lights Out & Away We Go”, the famous call of commentator David Croft, situated underneath the subdials. Its precious quality is further accentuated by its limited nature: only ten pieces will be made, transforming each timepiece into a coveted collector’s item.
Read more: Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco: Tag Heuer unveils two new Monaco timepieces
The brand also unleashes nine new Formula 1-inspired watches to its Solargraph line, which come in an array of colourful selections that are reminiscent of vehicles lined up at the starting grid. Each one sports a 38mm TH-Polylight case, while its hands are highlighted by Super-LumiNova for unmatched visibility under any conditions. The Calibre TH50-00 effortlessly harnesses the sun; just a minute of exposure allows it to last a full 24 hours, without losing pace or precision.
IWC Schaffhausen
Above IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff (Photo: courtesy of IWC)
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff (Photo: courtesy of IWC)
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Blurring the lines between film and real life, IWC Shaffhausen collaborates with Apple’s F1, which depicts Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a retired racer who returns to train a new racing prodigy. The Maison is the sponsor of the fictional Apex Grand Prix Team (APXGP), its branding visible on racing suits, helmets and uniforms. Its watches are worn as the official timepiece of the team, including Pitt. The watch his character wears is the basis of a special Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a green, grid patterned dial. A classic stainless steel case and strap reinforces the impression of endurance and reliability, complemented by the lustre of subtle gold appliques.
Accompanying it are three new Chronographs in its Pilot’s Watches collection, each one themed after the APXGP. Coming in first is the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41, sporting an 18-carat 5N gold case with a sapphire case back. Mirroring the dark, sleek silhouette of Joshua Pearce’s (Damson Idris) car, its black lacquered dial and ceramic bezel evoke a measure of striking modernity. Following this are the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP, which features a 43mm stainless steel case, and its fellow Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP, with a slightly slimmer 41mm case. The team’s APXGP logo is featured prominently on the rubber straps and on the sapphire back.
In real life, IWC backs the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, further emphasised with the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff, named so after the team principal. It is designed to not just survive intense pressure at high speed, but power through it. Its bulk metallic glass absorbs any and all outside forces and spreads it evenly, insulating its interior mechanics to maintain uncompromising precision.
See more: IWC Schaffhausen featured in the upcoming Brad Pitt-starring film ‘F1’ by Apple TV
Richard Mille
Above Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc with a Richard Mille watch (Photo: Getty Images)
Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc with a Richard Mille watch (Photo: Getty Images)
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Above The RM 65-01 McLaren (Photo: courtesy of Richard Mille)
The RM 65-01 McLaren (Photo: courtesy of Richard Mille)
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McLaren and Scuderia Ferrari, two powerhouse teams of F1, are under the fold of Richard Mille. Recently, it launched a limited edition watch with one of the most electrifying racers of our time: the Monegasque eight time winner Charles Leclerc. The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc, succinctly named after the driver, is distinct not just for its white case and red stripes, a nod to his hometown Monaco, but also for the crown, shaped like an accelerating tire under heavy torque.
The stripes extend onto the watch’s back, which reveal the racer’s name as well as indications of its limited status—only 150 pieces will be produced. It is powered by the in-house CRMC-1 calibre, their flyback chronograph movement that features 60-minute and 24-hour counters, running seconds, a 50-hour power reserve and a high-frequency beat rate of 28,800 vph. Also noticeable is the absence of traditional numeral hour markers; in their place are racing-inspired counters that better suit Leclerc.
Rolex
Above An engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph awaits victors of the 24 Hours of LeMans (Photo: courtesy of Rolex)
An engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph awaits victors of the 24 Hours of LeMans (Photo: courtesy of Rolex)
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The discussion of watches and motorsports would not be complete without mentioning the revered name of Rolex. Special engraved versions of its Cosmograph Daytona, named after the eponymous racetrack, have awaited the victors of every 24 Hours at Daytona race since it became its title sponsor in 1992. Drivers must battle harsh conditions and gruelling hours, requiring significant mental strength and endurance—qualities that Rolex embodies. Yet, its involvement with racing dates back further still, to 1935. It was on this year when Sir Malcolm Campbell, wearing the brand’s Oyster on his wrist, famously set the then-land speed record of 300 miles per hour.
Its latest homage to the sport comes in the form of an eye-catching turquoise blue Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in an 18-carat yellow gold case. Its defining feature is a black tachymetric scale on its bezel, capable of measuring average speeds of up to 400 kilometres per hour. Its Oysterflex strap combines the comfort of more flexible materials with the resilience of metal bracelets.
Through time, watches and motorsports have developed a deep-rooted connection. While the timekeeper measures the top speed of the sport, man and machine relentlessly aim to set another record to be measured. But both seek continuous improvement, always striving to create a better version of what was the day before. It would be difficult to imagine one without the other, and that truth is indicative of how inseparable they have become. The future of racing and horology burn brighter than ever—and time is always on their side.
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About
Tobias wants to write things that make people think, laugh, and reflect. He’s especially proud when he can sneak in a cheeky pop-culture reference or a pun in his titles and articles.
He possesses a deep love of history, resulting from years of books, games, and museum visits. It was this fascination with the human endeavour that fostered his love of writing, spanning genres, tones, and moods. He one day hopes to write a novel—he just hasn't decided on a genre yet. A certified homebody, you'll often find him on the computer he built himself, binge-watching Seinfeld or House, playing his favourite gacha game, or reading a book.
Work
Tobias is a features writer that specialises in branded content. Reach out to him at tobias.tomas@tatlerasia.com.
