Watches of the British Grand Prix; The Timepieces, Brands & Stories That Define Formula 1
Every July, Silverstone holds its breath. The world's fastest drivers push machinery to its absolute limits around a circuit that has hosted Formula 1 since the very first World Championship race in 1950. At an event like this, watches matter. You will see some of the finest high-performance timepieces on earth, worn by people who know that a split second can mean the difference between winning and losing.
TAG Heuer: The Official Timekeeper Returns
In 2025, Formula 1 got its timekeeper back. TAG Heuer returned as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1, a homecoming over two decades in the making. The pit lane clocks at every Grand Prix, including Silverstone, are once again TAG Heuer clocks and the brand marked its return by launching the Formula 1 Solargraph collection: nine race-specific watches, each released to coincide with a Grand Prix on the calendar. The Silverstone edition arrives in a green and white colourway a direct tribute to British racing green, powered by TAG Heuer's solar movement, meaning it runs on light alone.
Their top collections remain some of the most popular sports watches in the world. This includes the Monaco, which is the famous square-shaped watch made iconic by Steve McQueen. There is also the Carrera, the ultimate classic watch designed specifically for racing drivers, and the Aquaracer, a tough, waterproof sports watch loved by athletes worldwide.
"The racetrack forged us; speed, podiums, and the roar of engines are in our blood. We are back where we belong." - TAG Heuer, January 2025
Explore our full TAG Heuer collection including the Formula 1 Solargraph range at T.H.Baker.
Breitling & Aston Martin Aramco
The 2026 Formula 1 season arrived with one of the most exciting new watch partnerships the sport has seen in years. Breitling joined Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team as Official Watch Partner, a multi-year global deal connecting Swiss precision watchmaking with British automotive legend on the world's biggest motorsport stage.
The Breitling logo now appears on the Aston Martin Aramco AMR26 and team apparel, making it visible at every Grand Prix on the calendar, including Silverstone. For fans of both brands, the sight of the Breitling shield on a racing green F1 car is one of the most thrilling crossovers in recent motorsport history. There is also a James Bond dimension: Breitling featured in Thunderball at the same time Aston Martin's iconic DB5 appeared.
The Navitimer was chosen with purpose. In the 1960s, Graham Hill and Jim Clark wore Breitling Navitimers at the track, using the aviation chronograph's circular slide rule to calculate speeds and fuel consumption on the circuit. The return of the Navitimer to Formula 1 via Aston Martin is not just a design choice, it is a deliberate reconnection with a chapter of racing history that spans both brands.
Shop the Breitling collection at T.H.Baker
IWC Schaffhausen: The Watch of the F1 Movie
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer alongside Lewis Hamilton, the movie F1 is all about real-world accuracy. The actors actually drove modified race cars on real tracks, making IWC the perfect watch partner for a film focused on precision. IWC is fully integrated into the movie, with its branding appearing on the APXGP race cars, team uniforms, and suits. The watchmaker supplied nearly 100 watches to the film, with its Pilot’s Watch models seen on mechanics, engineers, and the drivers. This partnership was first teased years ago when Brad Pitt was spotted at a real Grand Prix wearing a vintage IWC Ingenieur.
To celebrate the movie, IWC released four special watches. These include the Ingenieur Automatic 40 worn by Brad Pitt's character, an 18-carat gold Pilot's Watch worn by co-star Damson Idris, and two team-coloured chronographs. As IWC's CEO noted, after over a decade of partnering with the real Mercedes F1 team, bringing that racing spirit to this fictional team is a perfect fit. The IWC partnership with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS also continues in the real world with George Russell regularly spotted wearing IWC Ingenieur pieces in multiple colourways, including a bespoke piece-unique in black ceramic with a turquoise dial referencing Mercedes' signature colour.
Wrist Game: Every Driver's Watch Brand
Beyond the official team partnerships, Formula 1's drivers are among the most watched athletes in the world. Here is the complete picture of who wears what, and why.
- Verstappen is TAG Heuer's most prominent F1 ambassador, often spotted wearing custom Monaco editions. Off duty, he's also been seen wearing a TAG Heuer Carrera.
- Lando Norris- Lando Norris, Britain's Formula 1 star, wears Richard Mille, which is McLaren's official watch partner. His custom RM 67-02 "McLaren" with a blue strap made headlines back in 2021 when it was stolen at Wembley Stadium. Despite that, Norris has stayed loyal to the brand, wearing several different Richard Mille models. As a major watch fan, he has also been spotted wearing a rose gold Rolex Daytona when he is away from the racetrack.
- Lewis Hamilton - Lewis Hamilton has one of the most interesting watch stories in racing. During his ten years with Mercedes, he was the main face of IWC, wearing custom Big Pilot watches and even getting a special Portugieser model named after him. However, his move to Ferrari brought a change in style. Hamilton now wears Richard Mille to match Ferrari's team partnership, and he has already been seen sporting the incredibly advanced RM 43-01 chronograph.
- Charles Leclerc - Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's star driver, has been with Richard Mille since his early days as a young racing prodigy. This makes his relationship with the brand one of the longest and deepest in Formula 1. His signature watch is the Richard Mille RM 72-01, a white-and-red chronograph that perfectly matches Ferrari's team colours. He also wears the ultra-thin RM UP-01 Ferrari, a record-breaking watch that both brands designed together.
- George Russell - George Russell is IWC's most loyal ambassador. He has been seen wearing several different versions of the IWC Ingenieur, including teal, navy, and light green models, as well as a one-of-a-kind black ceramic watch with a turquoise dial.
- Liam Lawson & Isack Hadjar - The Racing Bulls drivers make up one of the most exciting young teams in Formula 1, and their partnership with Tudor is one of the most stylish on the grid. Both drivers wear the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Carbon 25.
- Pierre Gasly - Alpine’s partnership with the independent Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie. is one of the most unique collaborations in Formula 1. As part of this deal, Pierre Gasly became the first individual athlete ever sponsored by the brand. Gasly wears the Moser Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition, a steel chronograph featuring a blue case and an open dial that lets you see the mechanics inside.
- Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll - Thanks to the Aston Martin Aramco team's partnership with Breitling, two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso now wears Breitling as his official team watch.
For those with a passion for motorsport, Grand Prix watches offer far more than reliable timekeeping—they're a celebration of racing heritage, precision engineering and timeless design. Inspired by the excitement of the track and crafted with everyday wear in mind, these timepieces capture the spirit of speed while remaining versatile enough for any occasion.
Whether you're a lifelong motorsport enthusiast or simply appreciate bold, performance-inspired design, a Grand Prix watch is a stylish way to express your interests. Explore the latest Grand Prix collection at T.H.Baker and discover a timepiece that brings racing-inspired style to your wrist, wherever the road takes you.
