Best Watches We Clocked At The 'F1' Movie Red Carpet

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

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)

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

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 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)

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)

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

The 19-year-old showed up with a Cartier Tank in steel. Classic, simple, good taste. 

Edouard Philipponnat

Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono

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”

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.