Look out for these watches and new liveries on the 2025 Formula 1 grid

Borna Bošnjak

Fresh off the reveal of all the Formula 1 team’s liveries for 2025 during the F1 75 event at the 02 in London, we thought we’d revisit the watch and constructor partnerships for the upcoming season. When it comes to racing, 2025 looks like it’ll be one to remember, with McLaren and Ferrari taking Red Bull’s Constructor’s Championship crown, Max Verstappen’s inability to falter still being the greatest thing since sliced bread and Lewis Hamilton’s messianic arrival to the House that Enzo Built. On the watch partnership front, things almost lived up to the silly season we saw when it came to driver changes, with LVMH taking over from Rolex, and placing TAG Heuer in the driver’s seat as Formula 1’s official timekeeper. Here are this year’s contenders, in the 2024 Constructor’s Championship order.

McLaren and Richard Mille

Richard Mille took a 1-2 finish in last year’s team standings, and its two partnerships continue for 2025 (spoilers for the next entry on the list, sorry). For much of the second part of the season, it was McLaren and Britain’s Lando Norris who were the ones to beat. While Norris has hopefully learned that you absolutely cannot make a mistake when competing with Max Verstappen (as well as his feisty Aussie teammate Oscar Piastri), McLaren will look to continue their strong form and retain the last garage in the pit lane for next year, too, while us watch fans are hoping for a follow-up to the RM 65-01 W1.

Ferrari and Richard Mille

If you had told me a few years ago that Lewis Hamilton would end up driving for Ferrari, I’d tell you to stop watching Drive to Survive. I would absolutely end up eating my words, however, as the seven-time world champion is set to join Charles Leclerc for the upcoming season. While the livery itself is seeing a lot more HP influence than we had expected, that burgundy shade of red really is quite something, and it’s high time the partnership inspired something more than just an ultra-thin, avant-garde piece like the RM UP-01. For a man that’s absolutely dripped out wherever he goes, I have no doubt Richard Mille is cooking up something special to add to Ferrari’s list of watch collaborations. And if they’re not – they should be. This one’s for free, RM.

Red Bull and TAG Heuer

Having been the dominant force over the last few seasons, it surely came as a surprise to Red Bull and Co. when they were overtaken by McLaren and Ferrari, finishing third in the standings. That, of course, didn’t stop Max Verstappen, who will once again wrangle the neck of the number 1 car in search of his fifth consecutive championship. With the TAG Heuer shield proudly displayed just under the halo, we already got a hint of what Verstappen and new Kiwi teammate Liam Lawson might be wearing, as the brand launched its re-designed Formula 1 collection at LVMH Watch Week 2025.

Mercedes and IWC

Having proven his mettle during his stint with Williams, it’s now George Russell’s time to shine. As Lewis Hamilton heads to Ferrari and is replaced by a young Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it’ll be up to him to carry the team forward. On their wrists, the IWC Performance Chronographs will undoubtedly continue to feature in one form of another, while Toto Wolff will be able to smash as many headphones as he likes with his signature Shock Absorber XPL. Now just a few months to go until the Formula 1 movie…

Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux

Though the cars are beautiful and there was much hype surrounding the team when they signed Formula 1’s perennial badman Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin has yet to reach the heights its owner Lawrence Stroll prophesised. They’ve made their intentions clear for 2025, having signed ex-Red Bull aero wizard Adrian Newey, while Lance Stroll continues his occupation of the second Aston Martin seat. As for the car, we’ve learned to expect it to be pretty and green, and the same can be said for this year, matching the numerous collaborative editions it’s penned with watch partner Girard-Perregaux. Here’s hoping it’s fast.

Alpine and H. Moser & Cie

With a fresh take on their blue and pink colour scheme, a fresh driver in the form of young Aussie Jack Doohan and a fresh trim for Pierre Gasly, Alpine are looking to turn around their mismanagement troubles. Having said that, there are already rumours about driver changes after the first few races of the season – but alas, we’re here to talk watches. Last year’s announcement of partnering with Moser came as a bit of a surprise, given their penchant for traditional watchmaking, however irreverent. But that’s exactly the kind of thing Moser would do.

Haas and… nobody

Even though the Haas team currently doesn’t have a sponsor (the American outfit was previously sponsored by niche high-end watchmaker Cyrus and Richard Mille before that), its strong qualifying pace and strong finish to the 2024 season – mainly thanks to Nico Hulkenberg pulling it out of the bag – the team has said that this will be the first year where they meet the development cost cap. It’s one of a couple of teams with an all-new driver pairing, having signed race winner Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman who impressed when stepping in for a recovering Carlos Sainz at Ferrari last year, while racing in Formula 2 for the rest of the season.

Racing Bulls and Tudor

Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team continues its hot streak of being the worst name on the grid, but also of having amazing liveries. This year’s white RB is surely a nod to the fan-favourite Japan tribute special Red Bull RB16B from 2021 (that confusingly raced in Turkey) but with several key changes adding a touch of RB irreverence. I’m especially fond of the little bulls hopping along its engine cover. As for RB’s watch partner, they’ve only gone and signed with Tudor last year, a partnership that has already yielded several special editions. While we won’t be seeing the beaming mug of Danny Ric on the grid, pocket rocket Yuki Tsunoda will look to continue his hot streak against rookie Isaac Hadjar.

Williams and nobody, part 2

Williams has spent too long lingering at the bottom of F1 leaderboards: with signing Carlos Sainz to partner Alex Albon for 2025, the team is showing that they’re ready to race at a high level once again. Their livery uses classic Williams tones of dark and light blue, and they’re keeping the genius Duracell branding around the intake – but there are no watch sponsors to be seen. Previously, the team was partnered with Bremont but is taking a different approach to marketing these days, with Atlassian being recently announced as a title sponsor. If this is a big of an investment as it could be, we might see Thai sweet chilli climb the ranks.

Kick Sauber and nobody, part 3

For the second year running, Kick Sauber finds itself with no official watch partner, ever since its Rebellion partnership ended with the watchmaking side of that company getting folded to fund its racing efforts. Unlike last year, however, the press shots of the drivers no longer have them wearing the watches, and with Bottas’ Sarpaneva connection heading out of the team, Nico Hulkenberg’s and Gabriel Bortoleto’s wrists are blank canvases as of now. We know the Hulk is a big watch fan, so keep your eyes peeled. At least they’ve managed to vastly improve the livery and will be hoping to score more than a couple of points this year. Baby steps, you know?