SpotlightSingapore Grand Prix Special: Formula One Racers And Their Luxury Watches
A look at 5 luxury watches, their association with the top F1 teams and racers
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In a game where even a split second can make or break your chance of gracing the pole position, wrist watches and timekeeping are of prime importance. The biggest, most luxurious brands itch for collaborations with F1 teams, drivers or events.
Taming Speed With Time: The Role Of Time In The History Of F1
Rolex, like always, took the leader’s baton and collaborated with Sir Malcolm Campbell in as early as 1930. Here’s some interesting trivia: Sir Campbell set five records in Daytona, Florida and that perhaps shaped and inspired the most prominent Rolex watch – the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph. Mechanical stopwatches entered the Formula One scene in the 50s but weren’t accurate enough.
TAG Heuer Chronograph watches have been omnipresent in F1 since the 50s. Steve McQueen, the legendary actor, and a huge racing enthusiast made the Monaco 1133 extremely popular after sporting it in Le Mans. In 1972, TAG partnered with Ferrari and later Lotus and Maserati.
An incident in 1971 at the Italian Grand Prix proved the utmost inefficiency of these stopwatches. Due to a difference of a couple of milliseconds, Ferrari’s Jacky Ickx was awarded the best lap time but it was actually Chris Amon who had finished the lap ahead of him. Mechanical stopwatches entered the Formula One scene in the 50s, but weren’t accurate enough.
TAG eventually discovered the groundbreaking ACIT (or Automatic Car Identification Technology). All F1 cars were fitted with this technology and it enabled the detection of even one-thousandth of a second, leaving no scope for confusion. Heuer sold this technology to Longines, who in turn become the official F1 partners back then. These days F1 sees insane numbers when it comes to speed recordings, and the need for reliable timekeeping has escalated.
The Most Thrilling Circuit: Singapore Marina Bay Circuit
The Singapore Grand Prix is celebrating its milestone anniversary this year, as it completes 10 years since its first race in 2008. The track is lit, quite literally, as the racing action here infamously commences after dusk. It is considered one of the toughest Formula One tracks in the world and sparks commonly fly (not figuratively) because of the bumpy course. It is not just the solid cars that undergo trauma; all the racers do as well.
Termed as the most physically demanding course, with 21 turns and inferno-like conditions that lead to a driver losing up to 3kg every race, it is gruelling. Even the safety car has shown up at least once in all nine races. So one can just imagine how thrilling the whole course can be.
A typical mechanical watch wouldn’t even last a lap due to the G-force that builds up in an F1 car. However, brands such as TAG, IWC, et al, design lightweight, yet stylish watches especially for F1 racers. The best part is that these watches aren’t just limited to the racers. Yes, they are available for watch aficionados who are also motor racing and sports enthusiasts like us!
There is no dearth of money in sports like F1, and rest assured that F1 drivers have their share of luxury indulgences. But like aforementioned, there are big brands sponsoring these drivers and teams. Brands expect these racers to sport their exquisite timepieces and more than often, the latter happily agree. The Watch Guide takes a look at the best wristwatches that would want you to trade your life with these racers.
Mercedes’s Subtle Display Of Power: Lewis Hamilton And IWC
He technically needs no introduction and is paparazzi’s favourite F1 racer, which makes him extremely popular. In his debut race in 2007, he lost out on the WC title by a single point, but his talent sent a reverberating message to fellow F1 racers. The Brit has experienced a highly successful career with just minor setbacks. At the age of just 32, Hamilton is already a three-time world champion and leading the points table this year.
On a personal front, Hamilton exudes class just like his watch sponsors, IWC. After winning the most recent Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was booed by the crowd, as he won on Ferrari’s home ground. But the winning racer displayed grace and lauded the enthusiasm of Ferrari fans.
IWC has the most innovative style of branding in the world of Formula One. They are subtle, which means team Mercedes does not specially wear IWC watches when racing or at the podium later. However, IWC has cleverly embossed an IWC Big Pilot on the right glove of the racers. It can’t get smarter than this, because every time the driver takes a right turn, the huge Big Pilot can be easily spotted.
Hamilton has exhibited a number of IWC timepieces like the IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition ‘Lewis Hamilton’, the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot World Timer and the limited edition Big Pilot. But most recently, Hamilton was spotted wearing the latest IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph at SIHH 2017.
Discover the IWC collection at Ethos
The self-winding watch is powered by an impeccable IWC 89630 Caliber. An apt size of 43mm, the case sits comfortably on any wrist and the slate-coloured dial looks royal. A magnanimous 68-hour power reserve, with the black alligator leather strap by Santoni, will excite any watch enthusiast. Explore the IWC Da Vinci collection here.
Ferrari’s Unmatched Force: Sebastian Vettel And Hublot
Sebastian Vettel is an F1 prodigy, to say the least. He started off with Torro Rosso – Red Bull Racing’s sister company – when he was just 19. Inspired by his fellow German racer, Michael Schumacher, Vettel took to the wheels as soon as his feet could reach the pedal. His blistering speed and competitive personality has already earned him 4 world championships and 42 podium positions overall.
Vettel ruled the first spot in a row from 2010 to 2013. He was responsible for bringing Team Red Bull in the limelight with fellow racer, Mark Webber, with consecutive wins. But Sebastian’s talent was really put to the test when he joined Scuderia Ferrari and from rock bottom, he surged their place and cemented a position right at the top.
‘Ferrari cars and Hublot watches – partners in timekeeping’. Before Hublot, Ferrari could never retain a partnership with a watch brand. The reason for an unsteady association is that no watchmaking brand could match Ferrari’s success.
The year 2017 has been a great year for Vettel and he has already won three races. Vettel is not the biggest watch enthusiast, but he could not resist donning the arresting Hublot timepieces. Particularly fond of the Hublot Big Bang Unico collection, he has flaunted a White Ceramic and King Gold watch from the same collection. The watch symbolises perfection as it is painstakingly assembled by hand. It features a 45mm case and offers you the option to swap straps. It features the exemplary Hublot in-house movement, the HUB 1241.
Explore all Hublot watches at Ethos
Available in three models, the skeletonised dial of the Ferrari Unico has applied Arabic numerals with a chronograph counter at three o’clock. A yellow dial date aperture strikingly stands out and complements the yellow chevron of the Ferrari logo. ‘Cavallino Rampante’ or Ferrari’s prancing horse logo is settled at nine o’clock. The tussle for the numero uno position between Hamilton and Vettel is on, and it is anyone’s guess as to who will cross the chequered flag first. Click here to explore the Big Bang Ferrari.
Red Bull’s Unstoppable Might: Daniel Ricciardo And TAG Heuer
‘If you want to be successful at anything in life the primary thing is you have to enjoy it’. You can only expect such an optimistic thought coming from the perpetually jovial Daniel Ricciardo. He delivered a breakthrough performance in 2014 with Red Bull, when he won his first Grand Prix and two more that year. And it was just the start of a sky-rocketing racing career. His pleasant personality and good looks have earned him the reputation of a heartthrob. The legendary Aryton Senna inspired many and at the tender age of nine, Riccardo found a hero in him. With over 120 Grand Prix victories to his name, this is Daniel’s seventh F1 season and his fourth with Red Bull.
TAG Heuer, as mentioned earlier, is a watchmaking brand, a pioneer in the technology of timekeeping in Formula One. Apart from Rolex, it is the only brand that has constantly had a presence in F1, either as a race sponsor or as partners with an F1 team. The year 2015 marked TAG Heuer’s association with Red Bull after its fallout with Renault.
TAG Heuer found a brilliant brand ambassador in Daniel Ricciardo. Nicknamed ‘Shoey’ – owing to his trademark celebratory move of drinking Champagne out of his shoe – highlights Ricciardo’s affable and high-spirited personality, as well as his TAG Heuer persona as well. He has been spotted DJ-ing at TAG parties and sporting some of their best timepieces, including the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 17 Automatic Chronograph.
Discover all TAG Heuer watches at Ethos
But Daniel’s favourite TAG watch is the Carrera Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph. Presented in a 45mm case, with a skeletonised dial and striking red highlights. With the kind of flamboyance the watch oozes, it’s no wonder that it’s the Australian’s favourite timepiece. The tachymeter is displayed on a fixed black ceramic bezel. With a 50-hour power reserve, the TAG Heuer Calibre Heuer 01 movement, and 28,800 VPH, the watch is a beast in terms of performance and appearance. A sporty rubber strap graces the Carrera Heuer-01. It is extremely sportive visually and on the wrist due to the perforations that run along the strap. Explore the stainless steel and blue calfskin rubber strap options of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection at Ethos Watch Boutiques.
The Dominant Aura Of Oris And Lance Stroll:
If you’re a motorsport enthusiast, there is no way you’ve not heard of Lance Stroll, the Canadian F1 racer who has ‘enjoyed a fairytale period in his young career’. At just 18 years of age, Lance has achieved titles that many professionals can only dream of. Stroll has been Williams’ paragon ever since he stepped into the Williams Young Driver Development Programme in 2015. His par excellence performance in 2017 sealed a place for him in the Williams F1 team. The alliance between Oris and Williams is an exemplary illustration between sponsors and teams. Although Williams
The alliance between Oris and Williams is an exemplary illustration between sponsors and teams. Although Williams has not experienced the joy of a podium finish, things look bright this year as ‘in Stroll, Williams have found a dedicated and committed young driver to propel the team to even greater heights’.
The association between Stroll and Oris goes back to when the rookie was just starting off. However, it is only this year that Lance Stroll found a new instrument that he totally adores – the Oris Williams Chronograph Carbon Fibre Extreme. The Canadian racer was gifted the extremely lightweight watch during his visit to the Oris factory in Hölstein in February 2017. Post the visit, the two seem inseparable, with Stroll proclaiming his love for the watch as ‘a highly technical watch, amazingly light, yet strong’. “I’m looking forward to wearing it this year,” he had stated. It is definitely one of the most innovative and technically progressive watches from the house of Oris.
Discover all Oris watches at Ethos
Feather light, but not diminutive, it sizes up a 44mm carbon fibre case. The watch is developed using a patented process and technical know-how that Williams provided Oris with. The solid watch is high on performance as it is powered by the Oris Caliber 674, a modified ETA 7750 chronograph movement. Against a black dial, the chronograph hand and counters are all in ‘Williams blue’. The bezel on the Williams Chronograph is totally inspired by the racing look and sits well on a black bezel. The watch gets its finishing touch with a sturdy rubber strap and a DLC-coated titanium folding clasp. Explore the complete Oris Motorsport collection here.
Kimi Räikkönen Stirs A Storm With Ferrari And Hublot
There is only one word to describe Kimi Räikkönen’s tenure as a F1 racer: ‘seasoned’! Räikkönen started out in 2001 with Sauber, but he could never really surpass Schumacher and Ferrari’s supremacy, even though he did make an impact. One of the most talented racers of all time, he has thrilled his fans ever since he shifted to Ferrari and won his first world championship in 2007.
Räikkönen, or ‘Iceman’, as he is known in the racing world, has dabbled in and out of F1, but his loyalty towards Ferrari is rock solid. Even at the age of 37, the Finn is in top form and finished sixth last year. We’re only hoping he will paint the track in Ferrari Red and leave us rooting for Scuderia Ferrari, yet again.
As a part of Ferrari, not only does Räikkönen race the best technology, he also wears it on his wrist. He is often seen in a Hublot timepiece as they are Ferrari’s official sponsors. His most loved watch from the Swiss watchmakers is the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Ceramic Carbon. A limited edition chronograph, it exudes the same characteristics as Ferrari F1 cars. Boasting of staggering looks, the watch is buoyant and made up of carbon fibre.
Explore all Hublot watches at Ethos
Inspired by racing, the bezel is impressive as it displays ‘six H-shaped black PVD titanium screws’. The watch has a plethora of technical features that include the chronograph and flyback movement with a column wheel – all powered by an in-house HUB1241 UNICO calibre. The dial stands out due to the bold yellow appliques against a grey colour tone. There is coolness etched all over the watch and it comes with a massive 72-hour power reserve. Perfect for racing, the watch cuts a über-sporty image. Explore the complete Hublot Big Bang collection at Ethos Watch Boutiques.
Will Hamilton retain the number one spot for Team Mercedes, or will Ferrari’s Vettel pull off a major upset by overtaking the Brit? Who are you placing your bet on? Do tell us in the comment section below.
