A Transient Look Forward At The Upcoming 2024 Season of Method 1

We’re solely weeks away from the beginning of the 2024 Method 1 season, as all of the groups have introduced their new vehicles (primarily liveries) over the previous fortnight or so. However this time round it wasn’t the brand new vehicles that had been the discuss of the city, however quite the shock-announcement Lewis Hamilton has signed with Ferrari for the 2025 season! Though that’s nonetheless a 12 months away, and he’ll doubtless need to end sturdy with Mercedes-AMG, it was information that rippled by way of the F1 paddock like an earthquake. Regardless of that, now we have 24 races to sit up for this 12 months! Pink Bull will try to attain their fourth driver’s championship by the hands of Max Verstappen in a row, whereas the remainder will do all the pieces they will to stop that from occurring. However the age-old query stays; who will rise to the event? It’s all kicking off in Bahrein on February twenty first with the pre-season testing, and the primary race weekend beginning on the twenty ninth of February!

This season we’ll see your entire F1 paddock return to China for the primary time in 5 years (Covid-19, keep in mind that?), and the Emilia Romagna race is making a comeback too. That makes for a complete of 24 Grand Prix to get all enthusiastic about! For the remainder, nothing has modified within the schedule. The primary race will probably be on the third of March, with the ultimate one on December eighth, and the season will embody 6 sprint-race weekends (China, Miami, Austria, Austin, São Paolo & Qatar). Be warned although, as as a consequence of Ramadan, the primary two races of the season will probably be on a Saturday! That stated, let’s check out who will compete this 12 months, and what timing associate they’ve teamed up with (we’re a watch publication in any case!).

Oracle Pink Bull Racing – Max Verstappen & Sergio Perez – TAG Heuer

Final 12 months was just about the Max Verstappen present, because the Dutchman gained a record-breaking variety of races, 19 out of twenty-two in whole! The one two drives to additionally win races had been his teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. This 12 months although, issues aren’t so sure, as the remainder of the groups have taken an excellent have a look at the RB19 from the 2023 season, and have carried out a number of improvements impressed by the blisteringly fast Pink Bull. There’s one issue the opposite groups merely can’t copy although, and that’s engineering mastermind Adrian Newey. Does he have new technical tips up his sleeve with the event of the RB20? We’ll see on the twenty ninth of February!

As for its timing associate, Pink Bull depends on TAG Heuer once more. This partnership has been going sturdy for fairly a number of years now and seems like a pure match. The connection between racing and TAG Heuer in itself is obvious to anybody with even the slightest notion of the game. The model has paved the way in which in racing timing expertise by way of its mechanical stopwatches, chronograph watches and digital timing techniques. In recent times we’ve seen some restricted editions tied to Max Verstappen, and particular racing editions of the Monaco. What will probably be launched for this 12 months stays to be seen although, so maintain a detailed eye on Verstappen’s and Perez’s wrists!

Scuderia Ferrari – Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz Jr. – Richard Mille

Ferrari maybe got here closest to Pink Bull final 12 months, spectacularly profitable the Singaporean Grand Prix. The Italian group carried out fairly strongly all through the season and was locked in a battle for second place within the Constructor’s Championship with Mercedes-AMG,  lacking out by solely three factors after the ultimate race of the season. The duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are each thought of to be potential future world champions, so maybe 2024 would be the Scuderia’s 12 months once more.

Regardless of the actual fact Leclerc is positioned as lead driver, it will be superb to see Carlos Sainz in profitable type in what will probably be his final 12 months with the group! The SF-24 seems mighty spectacular, but it surely’s not all in regards to the automobile with regards to Ferrari. Consistency in technique, clear pitstops and fewer mechanical points must also be addressed as they’ve hindered efficiency previously. Will they overcome these components on this 12 months’s championship, and can they then be capable to beat Pink Bull, Mercedes-AMG and the others?

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will once more be sporting Richard Mille all through the season, as has been the case for fairly some years already. The extremely technical and racing-inspired watches by Richard Mille are an ideal match with Method 1 it appears, as they repeatedly characteristic light-weight supplies, ultra-resistant constructions and progressive technical options. Neither of the 2 drivers has seen their title on a particular version simply but, however possibly a driver’s title or constructor’s title will change that?

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Method 1 – Lewis Hamilton & George Russel – IWC Schaffhausen

As stated, the largest information main into the season opener in Bahrein is for sure Lewis Hamilton’s transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari. Regardless of the actual fact it’s nonetheless a 12 months away, will probably be fascinating to see the dynamic this season. Will George Russell be allowed to take over the lead position, and is ready to? Will Lewis nonetheless give it his all to combat for the championship? Will the W15 they only introduced be a step in the best route after two very difficult years? Will Toto Wolff provide you with a grasp plan to convey Mercedes again to the entrance of the pack? All of it stays to be seen in fact, however one factor is for sure; Mercedes-AMG is all the time a group to think about for the championship heading into a brand new season.

With the departure of Lewis Hamilton on the finish of the 12 months, Mercedes-AMG’s timing associate IWC Schaffhausen may even lose a robust ambassador. It felt like Mr. 44 was an ideal match for the model, and there have been quite a few particular editions created with the 7-time World Champion, such because the fabulous Portugieser Tourbillon Retrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton as an illustration. Regardless, the ties to Method 1 are crucial to IWC, as Artistic Course Christian Knoop defined to us in a current interview. So we don’t have to fret an excessive amount of for the model to step away from the game any time quickly.

Aston Martin Aramco F1 Staff – Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll – Girard-Perregaux

Being the group proprietor’s son has its perks, but it surely should be stated that Lance Stroll did fairly an excellent job final 12 months, regardless of coming in solely tenth total. Gone is the wild and erratic behaviour on monitor (that shifted to the paddock roughly) and in got here the common points-scoring finishes for the Aston Martin Aramco F1 group. However, he was outclassed by two-time World Driver’s Champion Fernando Alonso, who scored 4 third-place finishes out of the primary 5 races. Sadly, the place McLarend turned from dangerous to good, Aston Martin stalled a bit and noticed others overtake them within the standings. For this 12 months, the group is dead-set to not repeat that because it introduced the AMR24, a automobile group principal Mike Krack says can beat Pink Bull.

Aston Martin F1, to place it quick, additionally simply prolonged its partnership with Girard-Perregaux for a number of years. The partnership, which was struck between Aston Martin Lagonda and in extent with the Aston Martin F1 group in 2021, has to this point resulted in a number of particular editions primarily based on the fabled Laureato. All watches included touches of inexperienced, tying them to each the Aston Martin highway vehicles (usually wearing British Racing Inexperienced) and the Aramco-sponsored F1 automobile. Probably the most outspoken of the fashions made in partnership between the automobile and watch firms was the Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Version, which is able to doubtless see a follow-up someday throughout the coming season.

BWT Alpina F1 Staff – Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasley – H. Moser & Cie

The BWT Alpina F1 Staff has had some administration points these previous two years, however continues with its duo of French aces; Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasley. Final season, the group had some very sturdy races in a tightly fought pack behind Pink Bull and repeatedly racked up factors, even scoring a third place for Esteban Ocon within the Monaco Grand Prix and a third place for Pierre Gasley within the Dutch Grand Prix. The brand new A524 automobile will get some further energy from its Renault engine, regardless of the engine developments being frozen till 2026. So we’d simply see Alpine a bit nearer to the entrance this 12 months!

With regards to its timing companions, it got here as fairly a shock simply a few weeks in the past that the BWT Alpine F1 Staff is breaking methods with Bell & Ross and as a substitute has partnered with H. Moser & Cie. And it’s not even restricted to F1, as Moser is ready to cowl all of Alpine’s actions, together with endurance racing! There already is considerably of a sporty facet to the extremely revered unbiased model, we really feel that tying knots with Method 1 could push this to new heights. Can we foresee a titanium Streamliner maybe, or perhaps a carbon fibre one? Who is aware of! The Moser-team, headed by Edouard Meylan, is well-equipped and artistic sufficient to make it occur!

Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber – Valtteri Bottas & Zhou Guanyu – Unknown

Even earlier than one mile has been raced, the Sauber group (previously Alfa Romeo) is surrounded by controversy. Not solely is its foremost title sponsor Stake.com a web-based on line casino and thus not allowed to promote in some nations, however there’s additionally a Swiss federal investigation being launched into the corporate’s actions and legality. This season will probably be a bridge 12 months for the group although, because the Alfa Romeo deal resulted in 2023, and Audi will take over management in 2025. The ‘Kick’ a part of the title refers back to the live-streaming platform Kick.com which would be the group’s official title sponsor in nations the place Stake.com is just not allowed. Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu stay on board, because the Sauber group is aiming for an enchancment over final 12 months’s efficiency (ninth total within the constructor’s championship) with the brand new C44.

There’s extra information surrounding the Stake F1 group, as only recently Rise up has acknowledged it can stop all watchmaking actions and focus purely on motorsports as a substitute. The Rise up firm was already energetic within the Dakar, and earlier than that, it was a daily competitor in endurance racing, whereas nonetheless producing very technical and vibrant watches. Now that has come to an finish, it’s unclear if the group will current a brand new timing associate within the coming weeks or not. Possibly one will be part of halfway by way of the season, or possibly that can occur subsequent 12 months. So once more, maintain your eyes peeled and tell us in the event you’ve noticed one thing on Valtteri’s or Zhou’s wrist!

McLaren F1 Staff – Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri – Richard Mille

After a few seasons of struggles, the McLaren F1 Staff confirmed immense progress all through the 2023 season. They made an enormous turnaround halfway by way of the 12 months after the primary couple of races didn’t look promising in any respect. Rookie Oscar Piastri was repeatedly seen coming near his much more skilled teammate Lando Norris, even scoring a third place end within the Dutch Grand Prix. Norris proved the extra constant of the 2 although, as he completed all however one race of the season versus three retirements for Piastri. The brand new MCL38 automobile is alleged to be riddled with cutting-edge innovation to enhance efficiency over final 12 months’s automobile, however Andrea Stella (group principal) additionally acknowledged there’s nonetheless quite a bit to be executed to catch Pink Bull.

McLaren is the second group on the Method 1 grid to enlist the assistance of Richard Mille to spruce up its drivers’ wrists with watches. The hyper-technical watch producer is thought for its use of superior supplies and has even produced McLaren-themed watches previously, each linked to Method 1 and the corporate’s highway vehicles (such because the Speedtail). Whether or not there will probably be a particular version introduced in collaboration with the group or its drivers for the 2024 season, stays a thriller for now.

Williams Racing – Alexander Albon & Logan Sergeant – bremont (unconfirmed)

Williams is a family title in F1 it’s superb that it’s nonetheless a part of the Method 1 line-up, regardless of having plenty of shakey seasons in a row now. Enlisting comeback child Alexander Albon, and Williams protegé Logan Sergeant, the group hopes to proceed its sluggish stand up the ladder within the coming season. It got here in seventh total final 12 months, and particularly Albon was a shock in a number of races, so issues are wanting good for the group. What the brand new W46 automobile seems like is unknown for now, as Williams used the 2023 automobile to disclose its new livery solely.

The British watchmaking outfit of Bremont, based by Nick and Giles English, has been partnering with Williams Racing for the previous 12 months however doesn’t present up on the brand new W46 racing automobile, nor as a associate on Williams’ web site. The Bremont web site nonetheless exhibits loads of Williams-related content material to imagine the partnership will proceed into the 2024 season (and past, doubtlessly). However, the 2 can be an excellent match as each are of British origin and have excessive regard for his or her craft. Davide Cerrato, Bremont’s CEO has acknowledged that the variety of partnerships the corporate is concerned in needs to be decreased to attain extra focus for Bremont, so maybe this is among the terminated collaborations. Time will inform…

Visa Money App RB F1 Staff – Daniel Ricciardi & Yuki Tsunoda – Tudor

The second group to have a brand-new title is the Visa Money App RB F1 Staff, which was previously often known as the Alpha Tauri-Honda RBPT group. This new title sponsor does imply it loses a little bit of its attraction with regards to the group’s title, however we are able to count on large issues from the Italian sister to Pink Bull. When it comes to developments, the group has moved nearer to Pink Bull than it ever has executed earlier than, a lot to the detest of different groups. However, the proof will probably be within the pudding because it’s not a certainty that the Visa group will compete for race wins hastily in fact.

One other shock entry into Method 1 concerning timing companions, was Tudor, becoming a member of forces with the Visa Money App RB F1 Staff. It is perhaps an enormous shock given Rolex’s involvement within the sport, however Tudor has had ties with motorsports for the reason that Sixties, all the way in which to immediately’s IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Throughout the launch, we may already spot a never-seen-before version of the Black Bay, with a totally black case and shiny blue dial. The information additionally pushed us to ascertain a group version primarily based on the distinctive piece for Solely Watch. How shut we will probably be to the actual factor is perhaps revealed throughout the upcoming Watches & Wonders truthful!

Moneygram Haas F1 Staff – Kevin Magnussen & Nico Hülkenberg – Unknown

The Moneygram Haas F1 Staff has misplaced its most outspoken determine, as group principal Günther Steiner has been laid off and is changed by Ayao Komatsu. The group has been round for a decade now and has been capable of make fairly an impression in a few of the seasons. However, confirmed to be one of the crucial difficult issues in Method 1 to grasp, the group lacks consistency. Funded by Gene Haas, the group is trying to flip issues round with the brand new VF-24, which will probably be piloted by veterans Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg.

Haas F1 has not had a timing associate previously couple of years, and it’s unclear as of now if it can have one heading into the 2024 season. There’s not a single watchmaking model seen on the automobile, the racing overalls or the group’s web site. So it seems like there’s a niche to be stuffed by somebody, however who will step up?

For extra data on the upcoming Method 1 season, please go to Formula1.com or any of the group web sites;

Editorial Notice: The pictures portrayed are sourced from Formula1.com, a number of the groups (see above for hyperlinks) and F1-Fansite.com.