F1 Drivers And Their Luxury Watches
F1 cars and the drivers behind the wheel are some of the most branded objects and individuals on the planet. From team gear to social feeds, every inch is a potential sponsorship opportunity. So it’s no surprise that luxury watch brands want in on the action. Whether through official partnerships, personal endorsements, or custom pieces, F1 drivers’ luxury watches have become an integral part of the sport’s visual and cultural identity. Let’s get a closer look at a handful of some of the most notable F1 drivers’ watches.
Max Verstappen’s TAG Heuer Watch
As a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer, it’s only normal that Max Verstappen, driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing, wears its watches. TAG Heuer has been the Official Partner and Timekeeper of the team since 2016 — a partnership that’s seen multiple world titles and a handful of special edition watches along the way.
Verstappen’s current TAG Heuer of choice is a Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, customized to celebrate his four consecutive world titles from 2021 through 2024. The personalization took 12 hours and includes small but meaningful touches. The hour counter displays the championship years, the rotor is engraved with “World Champion Max Verstappen,” and his name is inscribed on the chronograph minute counter. His lion’s head emblem — a nod to his nickname and driving style — is subtly visible through the dial.
According to the brand, the personalization took 12 hours and includes small but meaningful touches. For instance, the hour counter displays the championship years, the rotor is engraved with “World Champion Max Verstappen,” and his name is inscribed on the chronograph minute counter. His lion’s head emblem — a nod to his nickname and driving style — is subtly visible through the dial.
The base model is anything but standard. Officially known as the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph (Ref. CBW2181.FC8322), it features a 41mm black DLC-coated titanium case and a skeletonized dial with red accents. Inside is the TH81-00, a lightweight automatic movement with a split-seconds (or rattrapante) chronograph — a complication that lets you time two intervals at once.
The Dutch driver has also been spotted wearing a blue Monaco in titanium (ref. CBL2182.FT6235), a Formula 1 Calibre 16 “Max Verstappen” Special Edition, and a Carrera Chronograph in 18k gold.
George Russell’s IWC Watch
George Russell, driver for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, has been turning heads in Formula 1 since his debut in 2019. A former F2 champion known for his precision and composure behind the wheel, Russell is also an IWC brand ambassador — a natural fit given the watchmaker’s longstanding partnership with the team. Over the years, Russell has been spotted wearing several IWC models, but his most recent is a one-of-a-kind version of the Ingenieur Automatic 42 black ceramic. While the standard model comes with a black dial, Russell’s personal piece is fitted with a turquoise dial — a nod to the team’s signature color — making it truly unique.
The watch itself is already a standout. Officially known as the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 42 (Ref. IW328903), it marks the first time the Genta-derived Ingenieur design has been rendered entirely in black ceramic. With its integrated bracelet, angular case, and grid-pattern dial, the watch carries over all the hallmarks of the modern Ingenieur line but now in a scratch-resistant, ultra-light material. Powering the watch is the in-house Caliber 82110, complete with IWC’s Pellaton winding system and a 60-hour power reserve.
Other IWC watches spotted on Russell’s wrist include a Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 AMG, a steel Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, a Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph “Top Gun,” a gold Portugieser Chronograph, and, of course, the “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” Pilot’s Watch Chronograph.
Lando Norris’ Richard Mille Watches
Lando Norris, McLaren’s star driver and one of the most popular figures on the grid, is a longtime Richard Mille brand ambassador. Like many F1 drivers tied to the brand, Norris has worn a wide range of models, both on and off the track. Most recently, he’s been spotted with the RM 72-01 Lifestyle Chronograph in white ceramic and rose gold — a slim, sculptural tonnea-shaped piece powered by Richard Mille’s first in-house chronograph movement, featuring off-center subdials and a 50-hour power reserve.
His RM rotation goes deeper. He’s previously worn various iterations of the ultra-light RM 67-02 (including the McLaren edition made with orange accents and Carbon TPT), as well as the RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph, co-developed with McLaren.
Unfortunately, his affinity for Richard Mille watches didn’t go unnoticed by the wrong crowd. Norris was mugged after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium, and his custom RM 67-02 “McLaren” with a made-to-measure blue strap was stolen. The upsetting incident didn’t diminish his connection to the brand, and he continues to wear Richard Mille watches to this day.
Lewis Hamilton’s IWC and Richard Mille Watches
Lewis Hamilton, one of the most decorated drivers in Formula 1 history, spent over a decade with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, where he was closely tied to IWC Schaffhausen. As a brand partner, Hamilton was frequently seen sporting IWC timepieces, including custom Big Pilot models and special editions developed in collaboration with the team.
However, following his high-profile move to Scuderia Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton’s watch allegiance shifted. Now aligned with Richard Mille, Ferrari’s official watch partner, he’s sporting RM watches on the regular. He’s been spotted wearing the RM 67-02 “Italy” edition, a lightweight piece in Carbon TPT dressed in the colors of the Italian flag. Given his current racing team, it’s only apt that he also wears the RM 43-01 Ferrari Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph, one of the most complex chronographs Richard Mille has ever made.
Other Richard Mille watches spotted on Hamilton’s wrist include the RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon — in both gold Carbon TPT and gold Quartz TPT variations.
More on IWC:
| ➢ | Collector’s Guide to the IWC Ingenieur: All 7 Eras |
| ➢ | About the IWC Portofino Complete Calendar |
| ➢ | Who Owns IWC? |
| ➢ | IWC vs. Breitling |
Charles Leclerc’s Richard Mille Watches
As Scuderia Ferrari’s lead driver and a Richard Mille ambassador, Charles Leclerc has no shortage of RM watches to choose from — including a few designed specifically for him. A standout talent from Monaco, Leclerc has been a fixture on the grid since 2018 and is widely regarded as one of the most skilled and competitive drivers in Formula 1 today.
Among his signature watches is the RM 67-02 “Charles Leclerc,” a red-and-white ultra-lightweight model crafted from Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT, with a color scheme chosen to honor the flag of his native Monaco. In 2023, Richard Mille followed it up with the RM 72-01 “Charles Leclerc” — a chronograph in the same patriotic palette, powered by the brand’s first in-house chronograph movement.
Alongside these signature models, Leclerc has also been seen wearing the RM UP-01 Ferrari — the record-breaking ultra-flat timepiece co-developed with Ferrari — as well as a few pieces from the Richard Mille Rafael Nadal line, including the RM 35-01 and RM 35-03.
More on Richard Mille:
Pierre Gasly’s Moser & Cie Watches
Alpine Motorsports partnered with H. Moser & Cie. in 2024, kicking off a collaboration focused on engineering over marketing. At the center of this alliance is Pierre Gasly — a Grand Prix winner, former Red Bull Racing driver, and now one of Alpine’s lead talents. Gasly became the first individual athlete ever sponsored by the independent Swiss watchmaker.
These days, Gasly wears the 2025 Moser Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition, a 42.3mm steel chronograph with a blue PVD case and skeletonized dial. Developed with Agenhor, the movement features a flyback function, helmet-shaped bridges, and V-shaped elements that echo F1 suspension — all finished in Alpine’s blue and white.
Gasly has also been seen with the blue and pink editions of the Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine, both limited runs celebrating the team partnership. Rounding things out is the Streamliner Flyback Chronograph Automatic Boutique Edition, which he’s also been spotted wearing off-track.
Isack Hadjar’s Tudor Watches
Isack Hadjar drives for the newly rebranded Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team and is the 19th driver to earn promotion to Formula 1 through Red Bull’s junior program. Now it remains to be seen how far he’ll go in the sport — but on the wrist, he’s already covered.
As part of Tudor’s partnership with the team, Hadjar wears the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25,” a limited-edition racing chronograph designed in the team’s 2025 livery. With a full carbon fiber case, titanium pushers, and carbon fiber subdials set into a domed “racing white” dial, it’s a technical evolution of the Black Bay Chrono — lighter, sharper, and motorsport-ready. The watch runs on the COSC-certified MT5813 movement, which offers a 70-hour power reserve and column-wheel construction.
Hadjar has also been seen wearing the other F1-linked Tudor watch: the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic 58 “Blue,” which pairs a matte ceramic case with clean racing-inspired lines and a high-performance METAS-certified movement.
F1 Drivers’ Luxury Watches
Luxury watches have become a regular part of the Formula 1 uniform, with brands eager to align themselves with the sport’s biggest names. Some drivers have long-standing partnerships and even signature models, while others simply wear what fits their team affiliation.
As the sport continues to grow — especially in the U.S., thanks in part to the Netflix show Drive to Survive and a packed calendar of new races — luxury watch brands are more eager than ever to get their timepieces on the wrists of top F1 drivers.
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