Timekeeping has always played a crucial role in the world of Formula 1. However as things have now become largely digital, watches have been relegated to the role of becoming accessories and style statements for all of the drivers on the grid. Nevertheless, they still form a crucial part of an F1 racer's wardrobe and are often statements pieces on their own. More so, the companies that manufacturer these watches also provide the teams with valuable revenue meaning a larger budget for the team to go racing with. Below is a list of what watch brand every F1 driver wears or is contracted to.
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas: IWC Big Pilot
The reigning world champion and his teammate can be seen wearing IWC's Big Pilots. The Swiss luxury watch company IWC Schaffhausen has been a long-time sponsor of Mercedes and it's no surprise to see the team's drivers endorsing one of their key partners. The Big Pilot is one of IWC's most popular models and forms a crucial part of the Swiss company's range. Inspired by the aviation industry the watch features a large dial and would definitely be considered a statement piece by anyone who views it. With IWC being considered a luxury the watches don't come cheap and have a retail starting price of around €8,850.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valtteri Bottas (@valtteribottas)
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez Tag Heuer
Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both wear offerings from the Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer. The Swiss company has a long and rich history with Formula 1 that dates back to 1968. The company has been so intertwined with the sport that it even has its own Formula 1 range of watches. The watchmaker currently has an exclusive deal with Red Bull and even spent two years as the team's title sponsor when both the Austrian firm and Renault agreed the Renault name would be re-branded as TAG for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Given that the watch company has a deal in place with Red Bull until 2024 expect both drivers to sport the brand's various offerings with their F1 and Carrera collections being a popular choice. An entry-level Tag costs approximately €1000.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max Verstappen (@maxverstappen1)
Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo: Richard Mille
The McLaren boys have prominently displayed their Richard Milles over their short time as teammates. With McLaren having a deal in place to produce their own branded watches.It goes without saying that the team's drivers both flaunt what is essentially a million euro watch. Unlike several of the other watches on this list, Richard Mille does not have a long history to draw from. The company was founded in 1999 though their exquisite timepieces are some of the most expensive on this list. Known for using exotic materials to build their watches, Richard Milles are some of the most sturdy and sought-after watches on the planet. The RM 50-03 McLaren F1 is limited to 75 pieces and costs a whopping €1,094,000.
Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel: Girard-Perregaux
The newly rebranded Aston Martin Racing team recently signed a deal with luxury Swiss watch brand Girard-Perregaux. This means much like the examples above both Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel will be seen wearing products from the 230-year-old watch brand. With the Aston Martin brand name returning to F1 after over a 60-year hiatus it was only natural for the team to tie up with a prestigious watchmaker. Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest brands on this list with the Swiss company being formed in 1791. Given the recent nature of the partnership, both the watch company and the F1 team will unveil a collaboration later in the year. Expect the watch to cost a pretty penny however as even the brand's most frugal offering starts at over €8,000.
Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso: Bell & Ross
While Renault might have re-branded themselves into Alpine, their watch sponsor has stayed constant. The French car brand has had a long standings partnership with French watch company Bell & Ross and the team's drivers Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso will both be seen wearing watches that feature the company's unique bezel design. Know for their unique square designs the Bell & Ross watches are known to resemble instruments found in the cockpit of an aircraft. While the company initially had a deal in place with German watch manufacturers Sinn, the partnership was dissolved in 2002 with Chanel procuring a stake in the brand and moving the company's production to Switzerland. Bell & Ross watches start at a relatively reasonable price of €1500.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz: Richard Mille
Ferrari like McLaren has signed Richard Mille as an official partner for 2021. The exotic watchmaker will support the Italian brand across a variety of motorsport endeavors not restricted to Formula 1 and will most likely release a wallet-busting special edition Ferrari watch at some point over the course of the year. The cross-platform association means that it is likely the uber-exclusive watch company will feature not just on the team's F1 cars but also on the cars of the Ferrari Academy Drivers, GT Teams as well as becoming a key sponsor of the Ferrari World Challenge. It is also worth noting that Charles Leclerc has been backed by the Swiss watchmaker since his junior formula days and the company played a crucial role in helping the Monegasque driver get to F1.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charles Leclerc (@charles_leclerc)
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlos Sainz (@carlossainz55)
Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda: Casio Edifice
Unlike the other teams on the list, AlphaTauri has had a long-standing partnership with the affordable watch maker Casio. The Japanese brand has been known for producing inexpensive and practical watches that retail well under the €1000 barrier. In fact, almost every serious watch collector will have a Casio in their collection. The Japanese brand while not wallet-busting is synonymous with quality and their watches have their own unique charm about them. Given the accessible nature of their watches, Casio is easily the most relatable brand on this list and is arguably the most popular amongst fans of the sport. You can procure a limited edition AlphaTauri Casio Edifice for approximately €500, which makes it the watch of the people.
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Kimi Raikkonen: Richard Mille
While the Swiss brand no longer sponsors the Alfa Romeo team it does still have a collaboration going with Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen. The Richard Mille RM 50-04 Kimi Raikkonen is a stunning watch that retails for over €800,000 due to it's limited supply of 30 pieces.
Mick Schumacher: Richard Mille
Much like the aforementioned Raikkonen, Mick Schumacher is still backed by Richard Mille even if his team, Haas, are no longer associated with the Swiss company. The son of F1 legend Michael no doubt benefits from this relationship due to his ties with Ferrari and like Leclerc has been backed by the watchmaker since his junior formula days, with the company being prominently displayed on his championship-winning Formula 2 car.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mick Schumacher (@mickschumacher)
George Russell and Nicholas Latifi: Bremont
Finally, the Williams pair of George Russell and Nicholas Latifi will sport watches from the British watchmaker Bremont. The British team has chosen a time partner that echoes their English heritage for 2021 having previously been associated with the Swiss company Oris. Much like Richard Mille, the company doesn't have a rich heritage having been founded in 2002. Based on Henley-on-Thames the company has been growing steadily since its inception and recently opened its own manufacturing facility, the Bremont Manufacturing & Technology Centre, or simply "The Wing." Bremont watches start at an approximate retail price of €3000 with a Williams collaboration surely on the way.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by George Russell (@georgerussell63)
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Latifi (@nicholaslatifi)
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