Race Car Drivers and Their Wristwatches

Race Car Drivers Rely on Their Chronographs to Measure Time

Did you ever notice that professional race drivers always have the most extraordinary wristwatches? How they can see a watch dial at 279 kph is another story.

All the way up to the Formula One driver, sports car enthusiasts think of the sports chronograph as a tool to measure time. Long the favorite of sports-minded watch fans, these timepieces are everywhere. That's a good thing.

A chronograph is a practical tool watch. Race car drivers and pilots rely on their chronographs to measure time.

MAKE WAY FOR THE MARKETING TEAM

The goal is to associate a brand with a personality or high-profile event. The world of consumers must connect the two. Once the world notices, the watch shop is full of fans ready to plunk down for the watch they saw their favorite driver was wearing. Win on Sunday, and sell on Monday works for timepieces too. The folks who market these watches are a savvy bunch.

STAR POWER IS THE HORSEPOWER!

James Bond wears an Omega Seamaster. Holding up his latest trophy, Jack Nicklaus appeared countless times wearing a gold Rolex. Elton John and his Locman. There are many more examples of star power and watches appearing together. It's not all celebrities. The very best of these timepieces can stand alone. The boost from a winning race car driver standing on the podium provides the extra oomph marketers crave.

Lando Norris Wearing a Richard MillePhoto byPinterest

The watchmakers may have your F1 heroes wear these watches so that you will notice. Once they have your attention, they reel you in in the most subtle of ways. They want you to say something to your F1 buddies. Before you know it, your pal will appear at the next race viewing party with a McLaren team issue Richard Mille. It works. If it didn't, no one would bother. Associating a product like an exotic watch with an exotic car is money in the bank.

Mequeen and his DaytonaPhoto byCourtesy of Rolex

ROLEX DAYTONA

Launched in 1963, the Daytona was to meet the demands of professional racecar drivers. Chronographs were gaining in popularity with the golden age of sports car racing. Today, the Daytona is a legend. You may have heard about the Daytona worn by Paul Newman. It recently hammered at a price north of $17 million—Rolex-awash in the glory of celebrity provenance. Mega street cred, no doubt. PR value for the brand? Priceless.

TAG HEUER FORMULA 1

The familiar Tag Heuer logo has been around the Formula One racing scene for decades. Tag Heuer got involved in the late '70s and sponsored Williams. They were the main sponsor of the Techniques Avant-Garde F1 team back in the day.

Today Tag Heuer is still involved in the F1 fray and sponsors the Red Bull Racing Team. In late 2015, TAG Heuer assumed the engine naming rights for Red Bull Racing. The 2016 season cars would carry the Red Bull-TAG Heuer name.

Look at Tag Heuer's Formula 1 watch—a serious timekeeper with a built-in racing pedigree. A watch company is associated with the Red Bull F1 Team. You buy the Formula 1 watch. You are good in the cockpit.

Chopard Mille MigliaPhoto byChopard

CHOPARD MILLE MIGLIA

Make a note of this association. The watchmaker is aligning itself with Italy's historic racing event, the Mille Miglia. This race could not occur today as it did in its 1950s heyday. The original Mille Miglia was a 1000 km loop run through the Italian countryside. It boasted a field of prized Italian sports cars of the day. It was nothing for the drivers to blow through a town on the course and never hit the brakes. Admittedly dangerous for the townspeople who do not pay attention! Today's race would be far too risky considering the speeds of today's cars.

Nevertheless, Chopard has aligned itself with this legendary event. They commemorate it with a sporty chronograph named after the event. Chopard today also maintains a relationship with Porsche factory race teams competing worldwide.

BREITLING BENTLEY GT

You may have missed Breitling's association with professional car racing. The Bentley GT competed in many 24 hours of LeMans races in France. While the brand is well-known among aviators, The Bentley GT is an ultra-luxury sports sedan. If you need more proof, hit the streets of Newport Beach, California, and see for yourself. The car is expensive and high-performance. It pairs nicely with the high-profile millionaire lifestyle. Why not put an exclusive Breitling sports chronograph on their wrist? After all, this is a luxury-oriented, fun-in-the-sun Bentley owner! They say to follow the money. Better yet, follow the marketing!

RICHARD MILLE RM 50-03 MCLAREN F1 WATCH

Words do not do this wristwatch justice. It is spectacular. The McLaren Formula One team has been at the forefront of racing for decades. The team has been through thick and thin in its pursuit of racing perfection. McLaren IS one of the cornerstones in Formula One. As for the watch, it is the lightest chronograph ever produced. McLaren has influenced the design.

This watch is a technical masterpiece. The split-seconds chronograph ultralight McLaren F1 weighs 38 grams, strap included. It is the world's lightest split-seconds tourbillon chronograph.

This achievement could only be possible with the use of highly specialized materials. Designers used titanium and Carbon TPT® and an extremely open design. Graph TPT®, a new material, contributed to the lightweight case.

The watchmaker says the 10-year association with the team is now beginning to bear fruit. Let's fix that for them. It is now starting to bear EXOTIC fruit. Now that's better.

Steve McqueenPhoto byRolex

HUBLOT MP 05 LAFERRARI

Hublot wanted you to be energized, so they created a masterpiece to celebrate Ferrari's latest masterpiece, the LaFerrari sports car.

Knowing what you should look at when you first see the watch is challenging. The dial resembles a Ferrari engine. The watch has 637 parts and boasts a 50-day power reserve. Can we agree that this is a fantastic achievement in watchmaking? Hublot design engineers designed the watch alongside the Ferrari engineering team. Together they have married an incredible car with a stunning watch.

The watch blends exotic materials with innovative designs. We can all agree that the Hublot Mp 05 LaFerrari is as eye-catching as the car it celebrates. The unforgettable Ferrari LaFerrari!

Great marketers understand great combinations of products. Marketers seek synergy. When it is possible to join forces, magic happens. It would take little to list celebrities with products. Remember Michael Jackson and Pepsi? NASA and the Moonwatch? James Bond and the Seamaster? Ethan Hunt and BMW? The list is too long. These are long-lasting and impactful success stories for the companies and the people who buy products they love.

F1 carsPhoto byPinterest

Count on exotic cars and wristwatches being partners for years to come.