This year, at the upcoming inaugural Miami Grand Prix that begins on 6 May, IWC is unveiling its first-ever Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team watch. Unlike the previous limited editions, this is a team watch that unites members of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in their podium quest, meant to be worn by the team, from designers, aerodynamicists, race engineers, to strategists and mechanics. Says Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, “Both fine watchmaking and racing are all about precision, craftsmanship and performance engineering. But it’s the human factor — the passion, the love and the dedication — that makes all the difference between good and great. This notion perfectly describes our long-standing partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team and we are celebrating this partnership with the launch of the new team watch in Miami,” explained.
With the inaugural Miami Grand Prix happening this weekend, Formula 1 racing teams and watchmakers are teaming up left and right as they have since the 1960s. And with IWC’s decade-long history with Mercedes-AMG Petronas, you would have thought the watchmaker had made a timepiece specifically for the racing team prior to this year. However, its just-unveiled stunning new chronograph is indeed the very first.
IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” Edition is a mouthful, but luckily this watch speaks for itself. Looking to be the most eye-catching at the May 8th circuit in Miami, let alone the 2022 F1 season, the featured chronograph sports a 41mm grade 5 titanium case and black dial, but is emphasized with the racing team’s signature beautiful aqua green tone that’s used for the watch’s numerals, hands, and rubber strap. The strap can also be easily switched out with a black embossed calfskin thanks to the integrated EasX-CHANGE system.
Manufactured in-house by IWC, the 69385 Calibre automatic movement powering this Formula One Edition can be seen through the sapphire caseback and boasts 231 individual parts within the classic column-wheel design. The dial sports the same subdial placement as the rest of the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 line, with the hours, minutes, and running seconds functions included on the left 2/3 of the dial, as well as the day and date display at the 3 o’clock position.
Designed to be worn by the entire Mercedes-AMG Petronas race team — including superstar and IWC brand ambassador Lewis Hamilton — the watch can also be purchased by non-racecar drivers through IWC’s online store perfectchrono.ru