OUR WATCH STORY: Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer’s Bell & Ross BR-X1 Carbone Forgés

Ben Zachariah

We recently had a chat with with Renault Sport F1 Team drivers, the Danish Kevin Magnussen and English rookie Jolyon Palmer, just a few hours before the first race of the 2016 F1 season. Both were sporting the official watch of the team – the Bell & Ross BR-X1 Carbone Forgé.

As we sat down, we noticed a tattoo on Kevin Magnussen’s right forearm of a traditional pocket watch.

T+T: Kevin, I can’t help but notice your tattoo – can you tell us the significance of the pocket watch?

KM: My life is about time. Timing is everything for me.

T+T: Do you guys get into nice watches?

JP: I like to wear a good watch, so I’m quite pleased to have this one on my wrist. It stands out.

KM: I like watches. Motorsports and watches, it’s a very traditional collaboration.

T+T: Do you remember your first watch?

KM: My first good watch was a TAG Heuer Monaco that I was given at my first race in Monaco.

JP: I have a TAG Heuer Carrera which I’ve had for years, but now it’s been upstaged.

T+T: How does the Bell & Ross design fit in with your style?

KM: You know it’s a watch that I would wear, which is quite lucky because I didn’t have any influence on the sponsorship. So it’s just a very lucky coincidence that I actually really like these watches.

JP: Like most people, I like to look sharp, so it’s nice have a good watch on my wrist. It’s eye-catching – with its big face, and square carbon frame. In the design of it, you can see the strength in technology.