And with the new season comes all the spectacle and excitement of the new cars. Even the team changes and off-track shuffles. For example, we know that this will be Hamilton's last season at Mercedes.
However, as a watch fan, one of the most exciting things is discovering the latest watch collaborations. But also the sponsorships and waiting to see which watches we'll see on racetracks around the world. Perhaps the biggest news is the fact that Tudor has put its name on the F1 firmament. So without further ado, here are the best watches for F1 drivers to look out for in 2024.
Mercedes AMG: IWC
The biggest news of Mercedes' 2024 season is that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025. Hamilton managed to climb the overall podium last year. So hopefully he can achieve the same or better as a final hoorah with the team. IWC continues to be the team's wristwatch partner. And we hope to see more collaborations like the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Team Watch.
Lewis Hamilton: IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton Edition
At this point Lewis Hamilton, has presented several watches in collaboration with IWC. The latest of which is the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton Edition. A vibrant petrol watch with a platinum case and high horology movement. Specifically the Calibre 89900 automatic with 68 hours of power reserve.
George Russell: Double chronograph pilot watch IWC Top Gun Ceratanium IW371815
Hamilton is confirmed to be leaving Mercedes next year. Perhaps now is the time for Russell. To step into the limelight and get a valuable partnership with IWC. However, until that happens he will be wearing the trusty IW371815, the Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceratanium Pilot's Watch. This is one of the most famous chronograph styles, the rattrapante. You can read about it in our beginner's guide to chronograph functions.
Oracle Red Bull Racing: Tag Heuer
Red Bull is currently the back to back to back to back champion. Thanks to Max Verstappen's aggressive driving style. Max is again followed by Sergio Perez, who finished second overall last year. Their watch sponsor is Tag Heuer, which has a long history of producing racing watches. Indeed, the majority of their watches are named after the world's most famous races. Such as Monaco and Carrera.
Sergio Perez & Max Verstappen: Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph Skeleton
At the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last year Verstappen appeared wearing the Monaco Chronograph Skeleton. The first skeletonized model of the Monaco family. Every year Tag Heuer presents a new Monaco collection before the Monaco Grand Prix. And you can typically see it on Verstappen's wrist for the rest of the season.
If you needed proof that F1 drivers have watch commitments, then look no further. The fact is that Perez also wore the Monaco Chronograph Skeleton last year, as did Max. At least they each had different versions of the watch. With Perez wearing the striking black DLC version with turquoise subdials, while Verstappen wore the blue one.
Visa Cash App RB: Tudor
AlphaTauri is replaced by the Visa Cashapp RB Formula One team. And alongside its new colour scheme, it brings in a major watch sponsor, Tudor. This is not the first time Tudor has been involved in motorsport. Having had the Tudor Watch Racing Team back in the 1960s. However this is probably their most prominent project. The drivers of the team are Daniel Ricciardo and the former AlphaTauri driver. Visa Cash App RB replaces AT as Red Bull's second team. Hence the RB in the name of Yuki Tsunoda. Both are likely to be wearing Tudor by the end of the season.
Daniel Ricciardo & Yuki Tsunoda: Tudor Black Bay Ceramic
In the photos from the unveiling of the new car and racing livery, Yuki Tsunoda is wearing Tudor Black Bay Ceramic. This is Tudor's most innovative watch to date. It features a silent ceramic case and Tudor's first main chronometer movement.
Just like Yuki, Daniel Ricciardo has been captured wearing the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic. The ultra-lightweight ceramic construction gives it a very sporty vibe. It fits into the high-tech world of Formula 1. It has a diameter of 41mm and is water resistant to 200 metres, giving it solid gear watch specifications. However, unlike Yuki's watch, Ricciardo's has a blue dial that is yet to be released. Which suggests that new watches and collaborations are likely on the way.
Aston Martin: Girard-Perregaux
Alonso's renaissance continues at Aston Martin. With the Italian racing veteran being in the fray in more than a few races during the season. Joining him once again is Lance Stroll. The official time trial partner is Girard-Perregaux. They produce some of the most interesting collaboration watches with pieces like the Aston Martin Neo Bridges.
Fernando Alonso: Gloves Girard Perregaux Laureato
Throughout the 2023 season Alonso was not much in the habit of wearing a watch. Sponsorship deals no doubt prevented him from wearing his beloved Richard Milles. However, take a look at his racing uniform and more specifically his gloves. You can see that an image of a Laureato has been incorporated into his wrist guard. Making it look like he's wearing the watch, a clever bit of design.
Lance Stroll: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin
When it comes to F1-themed watches, they don't come more specially designed than the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin. It contains actual parts of Aston Martin's F1 car. A fitting watch for returning driver Lance Stroll.
McLaren: Mille
McLaren continues to climb methodically from the middle of the table. This puts it just below the leaders in the standings, in a good position to climb the podium in 2024. Something we hope they can do. With the promising talent of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the helm. Their watchmaking partner is Richard Mille. Which is perhaps F1's most iconic watch sponsor, with many teams working with them. Although the exceptional value of their sports watches is not always a boon to their drivers...
Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri: Richard Mille RM 67-02 McLaren
In 2021 Lando Norris had lost the RM 67-02 “Automatic Extra Flat”. It was stolen during a robbery that took place after he had attended a football match at Wembley. The watch is valued at around £120,000. It has a carbon TPT and titanium case and the CRMA7 curve also features carbon composite components. It now has another one on its wrist, with a light blue, almost slate blue strap that matches the McLaren colours. Lando's teammate Oscar Piastri also has an RM 67-02, although his has not been stolen.
Ferrari: Richard Mille
Ferrari is another team that has a partnership with Richard Mille. Together, the two brands are pushing the boundaries of what is capable in time trials. Having created the world's thinnest automatic wristwatch in the form of the RM UP-01 Ferrari. On the racing front, they are hoping for another top five finish for LeClerc. As well as the expectation of Hamilton getting on board next year.
Charles LeClerc: Richard Mille RM72-01 Flyback Chronogra
In another upsetting sequence of events, Charles LeClerc had lost his RM67-02 “Charles LeClerc” under similar circumstances to Lando. Although, instead of attending a football game, LeClerc was signing some autographs for the fans. Apparently F1 stars are a target for watch thieves and RMs are particularly valuable. Let's hope this doesn't happen again. In more recent watchspotting news he was seen wearing the RM72-01 Flyback Chronograph during a round of golf.
Carlos Sainz: Richard Mille RM 67-02 Automatic Winding Extra Flat ‘Alexander Zverev’
The “Alexander Zverev” version seems to be one of the most popular versions of the RM 67-02 Automatic Winding Extra Flat, with Sainz wearing it, as well as Piastri. It makes some sense for Sainz. As the black and red colours of the watch are very much in keeping with the Ferrari aesthetic.
Alpine: H. Moser & Cie.
After a stint at Bell & Ross, Alpine completely changed the direction of its partner in wristwatches. Moving from B&R's city watches with B&R movements to the high-end watchmaking of H. Moser & Cie. H. Moser has become Alpine's first “Global Partner”. Joining every branch of Alpine's racing programs, including F1. Along with the news of the partnership, they have stated that they intend to “develop joint products”. So maybe an Alpine Streamliner is in the works?;
Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly: Moser & Cie. Streamliner Flyback Chronograph
So far all we have are the initial press images from the announcement of the new partnership. Even the unveiling of the new race suit and car. In which both Ocon and Gasly are wearing the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Chronograph. The watch is inspired by the American trains of the mid-1900s. It combines a certain level of industrial design with a cool Art Deco quality.
There are several types of Streamliner produced by H. Moser, but it's no surprise that the model worn by Ocon and Gasly is the chronographic version. It features the classic Streamliner holster. Paired with a smoke blue dial and a checkered minute track that looks like a finish line.
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber: None
Although the Sauber team has been a mainstay of F1 since 1993, it has undergone frequent branding changes. In the past it was the BMW team, last year it was Alfa Romeo and in the future it will be Audi. For now, it's the F1 Kick Sauber Stake. But previously their wristwatch partner was Rebellion Timepieces. However, it was announced that Rebellion is stopping wristwatch productions to focus on automotive efforts. So while they may continue to be associated with the team in some capacity, they are no longer technically a watch sponsor.
Valtteri Bottas: Zhou Guanyu: Rebellion Predator S / Zhou Guanyu: Guanyou: Rebellion Re-Volt
The Rebellion Predator S is the closest thing to a Hublot Big Bang that has penetrated the realm of F1. Big yet bold, with an industrial aesthetic featuring exposed screws and a partially open machined display. The Bottas version features green and black accents to complement the new Kick colour scheme.
Of course, Bottas' colleague could not be forgotten. The Stake F1 Kick Sauber driver, who has the Rebellion Re-Volt three hand. It's bright red and black for its distinctive square design. It has a carbon case and a skeleton-framed screen.
Williams: None
The British F1 team Williams has partnered with the British brand Bremont for the 2023 season. However that partnership has now ended, leaving Willaims without a watch sponsor for 2024. But when it comes to racing, Alex Albon has proven himself to be a reliable mid-range contender. While Logan Sargeant has ways to improve.
Alex Albon & Logan Sargeant: Bremont WR-45 chronograph
Towards the end of the 2023 season Alex Albon switched from the WR-22 to the quieter WR-45. A watch that Logan Sargeant also wore. It features a black DLC case and a matching black dial with chronograph markers in white or black. It's sporty and race-focused, perfect for F1.
The Bremont WR-45 is a 43 mm diameter chronograph with a three-headed display. It even has a 30 minute timer, 12 hour timer and small seconds. The cassette and rotor design is inspired by the wheel rim of the Williams car wheel. It has been produced in collaboration with them. So it remains to be seen if the pair will continue to wear it now that their partnership has ended.
Haas: None
Haas no longer has a watch sponsor among its partners. But until recently it was working with the fine watchmaking specialists Cyrus. For the 2023 season they hope to improve their form. With the return of Kevin Magnussen and the arrival of Nico Hulkenberg, they will be looking to break into the top 10.
Kevin Magnussen: Cyrus Klepcys GMT Retrograde / Nico Hulkenberg: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph
Magnussen does not appear to be a habitual wearer of wristwatches. So with no team sponsor requiring him to wear one, he chooses not to. The last watch he was seen wearing with any regularity was a few years ago. During the Cyrus era, when he was wearing the Cyrus Klepcys GMT Retrograde.
Nico Hulkenberg is in the same position as Magnussen. As he doesn't have to wear a watch. But unlike his team mate he is actually a watch lover. His collection includes a Rolex Daytona and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ref. Ref. 26238ST.OO.A340CA.01, which he can even wear in public because he has no obligation to the brand.
Source: oracleoftime.com
