Watch Journal - Watches of Formula 1 Racing

An except from SCMP article dated 13 December 2019

Le Mans winners get a Rolex, Richard Mille partnered Formula One drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, TAG Heuer supports Red Bull Racing while Lewis Hamilton has a signature IWC Schaffhausen – exploring the motorsports world’s love for luxury watches.

Rolex has been involved with motorsports since the 1930s and is global partner and official timepiece of Formula One

Rolex has been involved with motorsports since the 1930s and is global partner and official timepiece of Formula One as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship. Winners at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and at Le Mans receive the Cosmograph Daytona with an engraved caseback. Rolex 24 victor Scott Pruett says the Rolex is a symbol of the commitment to win. “There’s no current driver or past driver who wouldn’t say the most memorable thing you can take away from this race is the watch.”

The Rolex Daytona Chronograph

The Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, to give its full name, or Reference 116520, is third-generation, powered by calibre 4130, a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement. Rolex says its architecture incorporates fewer components than a standard chronograph, allowing the power reserve to be extended from 50 to 72 hours. It is the driver’s boon companion because elapsed time can be measured and average speed read on the tachymetric bezel. It can accurately measure speeds up to 400km/h (249mph).

The Richard Mille Story in Formula 1

Watchmaker Richard Mille is passionate about cars and has created a number of limited edition watches closely associated with motorsports. Most recently, Kimi Räikkönen drove for Alfa Romeo in the Singapore Grand Prix wearing the RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen. “Richard Mille has powered his own engine for years with all three of these – guts, technological prowess and, above all, fun. That’s why I am more than happy to be at the wheel with the groundbreaking RM 50-04 on my wrist,” says the driver nicknamed “Iceman”.