Written by
Reviewed by Matthew Ashton
Modern motorsport depends on timekeeping precision. Records and championships often rest on fractions of a second, a level of accuracy simply unachievable with the human hand and eye. Yet with extraordinarily precise laser-based timing only arriving in the 1970s, for the first half of the 20th century it was manual human timekeeping that had to contend with the relentlessly fast nature of motorsport.
Believe it or not, in the early days of the Grand Prix race timing was performed by individuals with stopwatches and clipboards. As you can imagine, this created no small degree of inconsistency. Even the sharpest human timer couldn’t offer the required precision. Naturally, results were frequently disputed. In the 1960s and 70s, racing teams frequently used their own timekeepers – often drivers’ wives – because timekeepers arranged by the organisers were considered that unreliable.
Enter luxury watchmakers. As motorsport gained traction, major racing events like the Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans began relying on professional timing systems developed by watchmakers. When quartz timing arrived in the 70s, it dramatically improved timekeeping consistency – and reshaped race accuracy.
When watchmaking met motorsport
Today, timepieces are symbols of luxury and status, but back then they were genuine pieces of racing equipment. The 1960s and 70s are considered the golden age of motorsport, an era which was directly inspired by iconic models like the Rolex Daytona, TAG Heuer Carrera and Omega Speedmaster.
Before merging into TAG Heuer, Heuer was deeply entrenched in motorsport, perhaps more than any watch brand. Heuer developed dashboard timers in the 1930s, partnered with top teams including Ferrari in the early 1970s, and co-created the first automatic chronograph movement in the form of the Calibre 11.
Two worlds, one philosophy
At first glance, motorsport and luxury watchmaking don’t seem to have all that much in common. But they in fact both share a core philosophy: mechanical precision. In this way, before laser timekeeping, they’re two perfect halves – modern racing requires timing accurate to thousandths of a second, while chronographs strive to measure it.
As racing advanced, lightweight metals in the form of carbon fibre and titanium helped to innovate timekeeping in motorsport. Carbon fibre and titanium became widely used in both Formula 1 chassis and advanced watch cases, like Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille’s carbon-titanium hybrid designs.
Another thing that watchmaking and motorsport have in common is they’re both invested in engineering products that can withstand vibration, heat, shock, and extreme G-forces. Take IWC’s Shock Absorber XPL for example, which was created for Mercedes-AMG F1 with resistance to extreme impact in mind.
The big names behind today’s racing
Luxury watches helped to innovate motorsport, and today they remain a significant part of motorsport culture. The partnership that was once centred on trackside timing now plays a major role in branding.
Since 2013, Rolex has served as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1. The luxury watchmaker has long been associated with endurance racing, including Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with the legendary chronograph named after the track itself.
Another longtime partner, TAG Heuer have been the official partner and timekeeper of Red Bull Racing since 2016 and have supported the team through multiple championships. Last year, TAG Heuer were in charge of timing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which then produced the British Racing Green Carrera edition.
IWC’s motorsport heritage deepens through a long-standing partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One and its support of the Goodwood Members’ Meeting, which celebrates engineering excellence and racing tradition.
The proud British watchmaker Bremont has partnerships with both the Silverstone Festival and Williams Racing, aligning its identity with the very heart of British motorsport.
Meanwhile, Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille continues its legacy of pushing the boundaries of watchmaking innovation through collaborations with Ferrari and McLaren. Their ultralight, avant-garde chronographs are a worthy embodiment of modern Formula 1.
Luxury deserves protection
For an instant watch insurance quote, visit Stanhope’s Luxury Protection comparison site.
Get up to five quotes now
Get an instant quote
Easy quotation process. Clear options available and simple to accept the quote.
5 Star Review ReviewsIO
Written by William Cooper
I started insurance broking in 2009. I followed my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father into the world of insurance. In 2019, I decided I wanted to do things differently. I formed Stanhope in 2019 with Matthew Ashton and Rachel Living. We want to shake up the industry! Let's make insurance cool and useful for our customers. Let's improve the customer journey and get them to trust us as their insurance company. Let's pay claims quickly; let's be excellent and honest in all that we do!