Which watches do F1 drivers actually wear?
Borna BošnjakWatch sponsorships aren’t a new thing in motorsport. From the days of the revolutionary marketing of Jack Heuer and the icons his work created, to Michael Schumacher’s Omega collaborations, we’re seeing more and more brands that are not normally associated with motorsport entering the fray – H. Moser & Cie. being a particularly interesting example. But do the drivers actually wear these watches when they’re not on the grid? And if not, do they wear a watch at all? I took a lengthy gander through the drivers’ social media profiles to see for myself.
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Not only is Max Verstappen far and away the front runner for another title in 2024, he also seems to stick to TAG Heuer, even off the track. Whether it’s a stroll around Amsterdam or a Christmas party, his TAG Heuer Monaco Skeleton gets most of the attention.
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George Russell is very much the same, partying with Danny Ric and Martin Garrix while sporting a lovely blue-dialled IWC Portugieser. As he mentioned during our interview a couple of years back, his favourite is the Portugieser Annual Calendar, though it might’ve become a piece for special occasions, as the Briton chose it for a birthday dinner. That hasn’t stopped him from delving into Tiffany-tinged Rolex waters, however.
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Though he has been spotted with a Nautilus Travel Time on his wrist, Charles Leclerc has fully immersed himself in the Richard Mille spirit. Whether it’s a game of ping pong or some golf, he’s sported various iterations of the avant-garde brand throughout the years. A special-edition collab may be in order.
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A driver who’s definitely not ready to hang up his watch collecting boots is Nico Hulkenberg. I’m sure the fact that Haas don’t have a watch sponsor makes it easier, but his collection makes a case for being among the best on the grid.
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Highlights include rose gold Royal Oaks and brightly coloured Offshores, with a bit of Nautilus thrown into the mix, too. But his favourite seems to be the rose gold Daytona on a black Oysterflex bracelet. I’m not surprised – that’s one hell of a watch.
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Considering his long-standing partnership with IWC, as well as some very special collabs like the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph, you may expect Lewis Hamilton to be a Schaffhausen man through-and-through, but that’s only partly true.
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While he still surely enjoys plenty of IWCs in his spare time, his recent Brazilian adventure saw him sporting a delectable Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph 5990/1R, while being his usual fashionable self.
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Though he’s yet to record his first win with the team, Lando Norris is following in the footsteps of his compatriot with the once-chrome-coloured team. Though his work-provided Richard Mille is already quite a lot of watch, Lando seems to be a bit of a watch nerd, and that’s not just because he’s “cooking” while wearing a rose gold Daytona.
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The (admittedly old) photo of him celebrating an anniversary sees him wearing a Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition, but on an orange rubber strap. This would surely mean that, at some point, Lando swapped the usual blue strap that comes with the watch for this orange one. He’s one of us! Okay, maybe not – but it would be cool!
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Pierre Gasly definitely has a thing for watches. While having previously worn a rose gold Hublot, a tourbillon-equipped TAG Heuer Carrera, and a steel Cartier Santos, he’s lately delved into Audemars Piguet. A blue-dialled Royal Oak in 41mm accompanied him to the NBA and on winter holiday, but what I’m really looking forward to seeing is how far he leans into H. Moser & Cie. It’s a brand that has mostly been reserved for the eyes of enthusiasts’ until now, but with possible new pieces created for the Alpine team, the Frenchman may have something to look forward to this year, as the car seems a bit of a tractor.
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Matching his classy on-track performances with Williams, Alex Albon is less restricted in his choice of wristwear than others, considering Bremont is no longer in the picture. His go to for much of his off-track activities, both in Japan and New York, has been the Cartier Santos. It also looks to be the green-dialled variant – a true connoisseur’s choice, if I do say so myself.
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Though he’s had a tough time with Williams in his first year in F1, Logan Sargeant provided fans with plenty of entertainment regardless. He’s mostly gone Bremont or nothing over the course of last season, though he did opt for a Hublot Big Bang at one point, suggesting we may see a watch or two off the track in 2024.
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Having returned to the sport after a brief hiatus, I’m almost certain Daniel Ricciardo does have a thing for watches. Though Racing Bulls (as I shall continue to call them) have signed an exciting sponsorship with Tudor, already teasing a new model, I’m sure the Aussie will continue enjoying his extensive Patek Philippe collection which includes a 5271P, 5711 Ruby, 5164R… Oh, he’s also an AP fan, recently wearing a 50th Anniversary Jumbo in yellow gold.
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Yuki Tsunoda may be the most relatable “collector” on the grid, proudly sporting the Pluto variant of the MoonSwatch. It just goes to show the impact this release had, as Tsunoda certainly wasn’t the only big-time athlete opting for the Bioceramic tribute to arguably the most iconic watch ever made.
Last, but certainly not least, is my favourite driver and watch brand team-up on the grid. It comes courtesy of honorary Australian Valtteri Bottas, and Finnish brand Sarpaneva. The two have collaborated on a few pieces, the coolest of which has to be the Kilpisjärvi. A limited edition of 17 pieces, it tributes the northern lights in signature Sarpaneva lume. For those wishing for a more affordable option, the two also released a watch through Sarpaneva’s entry-level arm, S.U.F. Helsinki, aptly named the Flying Finn.