The world movie premiere of Joseph Kosinski’s F1 film in New York this week was practically a horological red carpet flex-off. The world has anyway seen some of the best fashion and watch moments at the F1 paddock, but now at the event, which was graced by numerous F1 drivers and celebrities, it was engineering porn on everyone’s wrists.
IWC was the movie’s official watch partner, so naturally a lot of people flexed their IWC timepieces – but many other marques also showed up in the limelight. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt rocked a vintage Patek Philippe.
From Tudor to Cartier, here are some of the best timepieces we spotted at the F1 World Premiere.
Brad Pitt
Vintage Patek Philippe Ref. 2526
Brad PittFacebook
You’d expect him to wear the IWC tie-in. He didn’t. Pitt turned up in a buttery vintage Patek from the ‘50s—ref. 2526, with a white enamel dial and yellow gold bracelet. Serious collector watch. Only about 600 of these dials exist. It’s understated, rare, and probably more valuable than a mid-tier race car.
Damson Idris
IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 (Gold/Black)
Damson Idris at the "F1" New York Premiere on June 16, 2025 in New York, New York.Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images
British actor Idris kept it on brand in the newly revived Ingenieur—a full gold version of IWC’s ‘70s-born sports watch, originally designed by Gerald Genta, the man who created Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak and Patek Philippe’s Nautilus. Gold bracelet, grid dial, black-on-black styling. Very “team principal on a power trip,” this is one of the best versions of the modern Ingenieur.
George Russell
IWC Ingenieur “Sonny Hayes” Limited Edition
George Russell attends the Apple Original Films & Warner Bros. Pictures "F1" World Premiere in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City.Arturo Holmes/WireImage
We knew we’d spot at least one of these watches on the red carpet. Especially since Pitt first teased this as part of his wardrobe for the movie. Mercedes driver and IWC poster boy George Russell wore the movie prop-turned-limited-edition Ingenieur. Green grid-patterned dial, gold markers, same colourway as the film’s fictional APXGP team. Only 1,000 of these exist.
Javier Bardem
IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar
Javier Bardem at the "F1" New York Premiere on June 16, 2025Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images
Javier Bardem wore the IWC Schaffhausen Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar 41, lowkey the best version of the Ingenieur on the carpet. This watch boasts a blue dial, perpetual calendar, and a moonphase – all automatically adjusted.
John Mayer
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (Black Ceramic)
John Mayer attends the World Premiere of F1® The Movie in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures
Mayer brought the heat with a full black ceramic Royal Oak QP, with an open-worked dial, and integrated bracelet. The watch has a perpetual calendar and houses an advanced ceramic.
Lando Norris
Richard Mille RM 72-01 (White Ceramic)
Lando Norris attends the World Premiere of F1® The Movie in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures
Norris showed up in peak Lando fashion in a fitting timepiece: a Richard Mille that looks like it was designed in a wind tunnel. Norris’ 72-01 in white ceramic is basically a spaceship for your wrist. Light, bold, expensive. Very on-brand for the McLaren star.
Mason Thames
Cartier Tank
Mason Thames attends the World Premiere of F1® The Movie in Times SquareMike Coppola/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures
The 19-year-old showed up with a Cartier Tank in steel. Classic, simple, good taste.
Edouard Philipponnat
Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono
Edouard Philipponnat attends the World Premiere of F1® The Movie in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures
Philipponnat wore the Jacob & Co Epic x Chrono 44mm in rose gold with a black rubber strap. The timepiece boasts a black ceramic bezel and skeleton dial.
Isack Hadjar
Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Panda”
Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Panda”Chrono24
Hadjar went with a crowd-pleaser: the Black Bay Chrono in black and white, aka the “Panda.” COSC-certified, vintage vibes, zero nonsense. You can wear this to an F1 red carpet or to actually drive fast. The COSC-certified movement delivers 70 hours of power reserve under the 41mm case.
