F1 has always been a sport where time rules everything; hence, it almost feels poetic that F1 drivers are also obsessed with watches, and not just normal watches, but the kind of exquisite timepieces most people only see in magazines. Every race weekend, fans look at the cars, the drivers, and the grid celebrities, but for watch lovers, there is another show taking place in the paddock.
Off the track, many of the biggest names in F1 treat watches like trophies and fashion statements all rolled into one, while some wear them because of brand partnerships. Some collect them just for the thrill of it, and some have custom pieces that no one else on the planet owns.
Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen Keep the Timing Game on Fire
Lewis Hamilton has been one of the biggest style icons in F1 for years, and when he was racing with Mercedes, he and George Russell rocked IWC watches due to the brand’s official partnership with the team. Hamilton even had his own Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar edition with his name on it, but after moving to Ferrari, he switched things up.
Hamilton now shows off both the light and dark Richard Mille RM 74-02 and the RM 67-02 that Charles Leclerc is famous for. Outside sponsorship deals, he is also into classics like Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks and Patek Philippe Nautiluses.
Leclerc is basically the poster boy for Richard Mille, and his ‘RM 67-02 Charles Leclerc’ model is built to survive the intense forces inside an F1 cockpit, but he also fancies rare pieces like the RM50-04 Tourbillon Split Seconds and the ‘RM35-03 Rafael Nadal.’ The crown jewel of his collection might just be the RM UP-01 Ferrari, and when he wants something more traditional, he wears a Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time.
Max Verstappen is in a class of his own both on track and on the wrist, and due to his partnership with TAG Heuer, he is often seen wearing different versions of the Monaco collection. He also switches to Carrera models, including special ones made exclusively for him, but for his daily needs, Verstappen enjoys the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronographs and Rolex Daytonas.
F1’s Young Stars Bring New Energy to Luxury Watch Collecting
Lando Norris loves to have fun with fashion, and his watch collection shows it too, as he wears several Richard Mille models, including the ‘RM11-03 McLaren’ and the ‘RM 67-02 Lando Norris.’ He also enjoys an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and sometimes pulls out a Rolex Pepsi for his everyday needs.
Pierre Gasly’s collaboration with H. Moser & Cie turned into one of the rarest watches in the paddock with the ‘Streamliner Tourbillon Pierre Gasly,’ which was launched ahead of the Singapore race in 2025. Only 110 pieces exist, including just 10 in red gold with a ruby stud at 10 o’clock as a reference to Gasly’s racing number.
Russell prefers watches with a clean style, and his favorites include the IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar and the Top Gun Ceratanium Double Chronograph, while his titanium IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph with Petronas-green accents has become a familiar sight due to his Mercedes contract.
Yuki Tsunoda used to wear the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic Blue as part of his Racing Bulls partnership. Still, he also keeps things casual with pieces like the Casio Edifice and the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch ‘Mission to Pluto.’
Even 21-year-old Isack Hadjar is already collecting watches like a seasoned pro, as his Tudor Black Bay Chrono Carbon 25 matches the Racing Bulls livery perfectly, and he also wears the Black Bay Ceramic Blue and a TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph on some weekends.
There is something charming about the way F1 drivers pick their watches, and it is not just luxury for the sake of luxury. These timepieces tell stories about their identities and personal tastes, and maybe that is
