WATCHSPOTTING: The top 5 watches from Drive To Survive Season 4

Matt Pickering

After one of the most exhilarating seasons of Formula One concluded last December, the countdown began, not to the next season starting this weekend in Bahrain, but to the latest instalment of Netflix’s docuseries Drive to Survive. After the epic drama and scandal of how the last F1 season finished, the return of Drive to Survive was definitely appointment viewing. Add in the serious wrist candy on display and you basically have the perfect show.

We binge-watched the whole of season four to bring you our top five watches on display. Without further ado, let’s make our way down to the pit lane and spot some watches.

Christian Horner – Team Principal Red Bull Racing. TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm CBN2013.FC6483

The Principal of the Red Bull Racing Team has become one of the biggest personalties of F1 – no small part due to his starring role in the show over the last four seasons. You’d think this season would open with either Max or Lewis, instead we get Christian doing his best Rocky Balboa impersonation running along through the beautiful English countryside.

As TAG Heuer are one of the team’s major sponsors it comes as no surprise to see Christian rocking a Carrera. His choice is this stylish 42mm Carrera Chrono with 5N rose-gold hands and markers.

Toto Wolff – Team Principal & CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas. IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL IW357201

The normally calm and stoic head of the defending eight-time constructors’ champions is definitely a presence in the paddock during race weekend. His watch of choice pairs nicely alongside this persona in the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL.

Housed within this 44mm Ceratanium® case is the “SPRIN-g PROTECT” system protecting the movement from acceleration forces in excess of 30’000 g. Perfect for those stressful moments at the office…

Daniel Ricciardo – McClaren & Australian National Treasure. Richard Mille RM 50-03

Richard Mille stands alone sponsoring multiple teams in 2021 (and beyond). So it’s understandable that they feature heavily throughout the season. Partnering with Ferrari in 2021 to sit alongside their 10 year sponsorship of McLaren, RM’s are seen everywhere. Ferrari young gun pairing Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz wrists both feature almost as much as their cars do. So do the McLaren team with CEO Zak Brown and Ricciardo team mate Lando Norris, but we’ve chosen to go with Dan.

Dan the man had a rough start to the 2021 season by his standards, but pushed through the early season struggles to claim his first victory since 2018 in one of the most action-packed races of the year at Monza. Dan celebrated with his trademark “shoey” and his Richard Mille RM 50-03 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph.

Sporting the McLaren “papaya” orange strap this timepiece weighs a paltry 40 grams making it the lightest mechanical chrono ever made on its release. After finishing a disappointing fourth in the constructors’ championship in 2021, the team will be looking to make as big a statement on the track as the RM 50-03 does off of it.

Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Edition “MOJAVE DESERT”

Last year saw Lewis fall agonisingly close to breaking his tie with Michael Schumacher for the most titles in F1 history. The final episode of the series delves deep into the pandemonium of that incredible final lap to end the season. Despite not coming home with title number eight, Lewis did spend his fair share of time on the podium and on-screen this season.

We spotted Lewis in a number of sponsor IWC’s timepieces throughout the 2021 season, including the original Big Pilot BP 46 at Silverstone along with our one of our favourite releases from Watches and Wonders 2021 – the Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Edition “MOJAVE DESERT” later in the series. At 46mm the BP Mojave Desert won’t slide under a dress cuff anytime soon, however its light colour-scheme and ceramic case give the impression of a smaller watch on the wrist. Unfortunately it’s still a bit too big for my wrist. If only it came in 43mm. Here’s hoping for Watches & Wonders 2022!

This piece was our seventh most popular review of last year and deserving of a place on the superstar’s wrist as he battles the next name on our list for track supremacy heading into 2022.

Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing. TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition

After a promising campaign in 2020, the young Dutchman burst out of the gate last year. At around the halfway point of the season, he was 33 points ahead of rival Lewis Hamilton before the race at Silverstone. What followed set the scene for the year’s incredible finish, with Max ultimately claiming his first F1 championship.

During his early season dominance, Max was seen with the iconic Monaco silhouette (made famous by the style king himself Steve McQueen) after his maiden win at the watches namesake track. This special edition chrono sits comfortably on the wrist at 39mm with a titanium case. Sadly only 500 were made and are all long gone.

What will be on the wrist of all the drivers heading into the 2022 season? Stay tuned for our full Formula One Season preview on site later in the week. Until then enjoy the recap of last year’s epic season.

See any other watches of interest? Make sure to let us know. Here’s hoping that this year lives up to the hype. At least we know the watches will.