History was made in 2023 as Max Verstappen became the first driver to win a mind-boggling 19 races in a single season, with 10 of them in consecutive fashion. Although in racing, most of the spotlight was at the front of the grid watching the Red Bull Racing team dominate, here at WorldTempus, we were interested in the watches worn by the 20 best drivers in the world throughout the paddock. From Richard Mille to TAG Heuer, here is our top 5 pick of the bunch, in no particular order.
TAG Heuer
Named after the track known as the 'Temple of Speed,' where drivers can reach up to 360kph, the TAG Heuer Monza is the pinnacle in terms of materials, functional complications, and racing aesthetics. First launched in 1976, the Monza collection quickly became synonymous with racing, specifically Ferrari, celebrating Niki Lauda’s 1975 championship. Recreated earlier this year, TAG Heuer launched an all-new Monza with a lightweight carbon case to mimic the weight-saving philosophy in F1, where each gram matters. This watch seems to be a particular favourite of Christian Horner, team boss at Red Bull Racing, who owns a unique Monza with the inscription “World Constructors’ Champions 2022” on the sapphire case back.
IWC Schaffhausen
As the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team official watch sponsor, you can expect IWC Schaffhausen to have some incredible pieces to commemorate this long-lasting and well-established partnership. However, the watch in question is not a collaboration with Mercedes but one with none other than their seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. Formula One is all about edging ever so closely to mechanical perfection, extracting every possible advantage possible in the quest to build the most complex and performance-oriented machines. If ever a watch were to be related to an F1 car, this one would not disappoint. Beating at the heart of the movement, this timepiece has a tourbillon, retrograde display, and chronograph, demonstrating all the mechanical prowess from the brand. For me, one of the highlights of this piece is Lewis’s emblem on the dial, drawing its inspiration from the fearless panther.
Richard Mille
Owned by many of the drivers up and down the grid, the Richard Mille RM 67-02 seems to be a sure value for any performance athlete. With its extremely thin and lightweight case, paired with its soft fabric elastic strap, the watch slips on like a glove and does not interfere with drivers during their day-to-day activities in any way. Pushing the envelope even further, Richard Mille has produced special colourways for certain drivers that seem never to appear anywhere else, from Charles Leclerc's iconic white and red to pay homage to his Monegasque upbringing, to the striking orange found on Lando Norris’s example, and even Alonso’s infamous blue, yellow, and red livery from his time at McLaren.
Girard-Perregaux
It is hard to go wrong when a classic such as the Laureato is given the full Formula 1 treatment, with lightweight materials, bold colours, and a beautiful chronograph complication. To commemorate the return of Aston Martin to Formula One, and after such a successful season, with Fernando Alonso amassing eight podiums throughout the year, this watch is the perfect celebration of this success. Beyond aesthetics, the devil is in the details with this one. For example, solely 306 pieces will be created of this watch, which equals the kilometers expected by both Aston Martin works cars to cover throughout the British GP, a small nod to the racing nature of the watch.
Audemars Piguet
It is impossible to talk about F1 watches without mentioning my all-time favorite F1-inspired piece, the 2015 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept LapTimer Michael Schumacher, even if this watch is not recent nor spotted on the 2023 grid. The Audemars Piguet LapTimer epitomizes precision in motorsports, seamlessly integrating an advanced movement with chronograph functions. Activated through dedicated pushers, this mechanism captures individual and consecutive lap times with exceptional accuracy. Crafted with meticulous detail and utilizing high-grade materials, the watch reflects Audemars Piguet's dedication to technological innovation and exquisite craftsmanship, standing as a testament to precision engineering and horological excellence.
So then, it would seem that the competition for mechanical precision and excellence is not only fought on track, but also in the manufacturers of these beautiful brands that keep pushing to the Max (Verstappen!) to create Formula 1 technology for the wrist. It is game on for 2024.
