“If in doubt, go flat out!” Celebrating the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One driver, IWC and George Russell have joined forces with two new watches.
The worlds of Formula One and horology have long intersected. Though much of the buzz can be attributed to TAG Heuer, perhaps IWC is beginning to encroach on pole position. Since 2013, the Richemont brand has been a staunch ally of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. A brief change in allegiance came in 2025 when it joined forces with APXGP for the F1: The Movie, (I jest), but it has since returned to its longstanding partners at Mercedes.
The brand has released collaborative pieces before, particularly for the team itself and its principal, the temperamental Toto Wolff. This year, however, marks the first time it has collaborated with its lead driver, George Russell. Now entering his seventh season as a Formula One driver, George Russell has garnered widespread popularity thanks to his remarkable talent, minimalist driving style and gentlemanly decorum.
Since debuting in 2019 and joining Mercedes in 2022, the British driver has secured multiple podium finishes and five Grand Prix victories, most recently triumphing in Singapore in 2025. His racing number, 63, has remained with him since his championship-winning karting days.
Accordingly, IWC’s latest limited-edition timepieces are capped at 1,063 pieces each. The brand has unveiled two new watches in the Pilot’s line: a 41mm three-hander and a similarly sized chronograph. The three-hand version shares the same case dimensions as other Pilot Automatic models like the TOP GUN, complemented by a 51.8mm lug-to-lug measurement and an 11.4mm thickness.
The chronograph, on the other hand, is slightly larger than the standard Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team watches, measuring 41.9mm in diameter, 50.8mm lug-to-lug and 15.5mm thick. Fear not, though, as the wearing experience is aided significantly by the use of black ceramic across both models.
The predominantly black aesthetic continues across the dial. A matte finish heightens the contrast between the watch’s structure and its signature colour. If it was not already clear, that colour is blue, appearing across the dial markings, numerals and the EasX-Change interchangeable rubber strap.
The shade was chosen to reflect George’s racing uniform, albeit in a darker tone that differentiates it from the standard Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team watches within IWC’s catalogue. Free from overt co-branding, IWC has allowed the watch to stand on its own, so you need not be a Formula One devotee to appreciate it.
Turn the watch over, however, and the story becomes more personal. Alongside the customary engraved text, the titanium caseback bears a prominent “63” at its centre, reinforcing the narrative behind the collaboration. Inside, each watch is powered by its own mechanical calibre.
The three-hander runs on IWC’s ever-reliable Calibre 32112, beating at 4Hz (28,800vph) and delivering an impressive 120-hour, or five-day, power reserve. The chronograph offers a shorter 46-hour reserve, with the 4Hz Calibre 69380 handling timing duties. That lower figure should not deter you; both movements feature automatic winding, further enhanced by IWC’s efficient Pellaton system.
My Thoughts
If it was not already achingly obvious from our writing, we at Watch Advice are big Formula One fans. As it turns out, it’s not just ‘hot girls’ that watch F1; watch nerds like us do, too!
While our attention usually gravitates towards the wrist, we are well-versed in the ins and outs of most of the grid. George Russell has long been one of motorsport’s more beloved drivers, so seeing him finally receive the IWC collaboration treatment is certainly cause for celebration.
So whether he is threading the needle through the tight corners of “Skibidi Toilet Baku”, hitting his iconic T-pose, or brooding over his ice-cold standoff with Max Verstappen, you can guarantee that Mr Saturday will be well equipped in the wrist department. In truth, he always has been, thanks to IWC, but now he has a collection he can finally call his own.
References And Specifications
Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 George Russell: IW328107
- Dimensions: 41mm x 51.8mm lug-to-lug x 11.4mm thickness
- Case Material: Black ceramic with soft-iron inner case
- Dial: Black with blue accents
- Movement: Automatic Cal. 32112 with date complication
- Power Reserve: 120h (5 days)
- Beat Rate: 4Hz (28,800VpH)
- Water Resistance: 100m (10bar)
- Strap: Interchangeable EasX-CHANGE blue rubber strap with black Ceratanium pin buckle
Australian Retail Pricing: AU$14,000
Availability: Limited to 1,063 pieces. Available in IWC boutiques, authorised dealers, or online at IWC.com
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell: IW389411
- Dimensions: 41.9mm case diameter x 50.8mm lug-to-lug x 15.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Black ceramic with soft-iron inner case
- Dial: Black with blue accents
- Movement: Automatic Cal. 69380 with day, date, & chronograph (30min, 12h register) complications
- Power Reserve: 46h
- Beat Rate: 4Hz (28,800VpH)
- Water Resistance: 100m (10bar)
- Strap: Interchangeable EasX-CHANGE blue rubber strap with black Ceratanium pin buckle