F1 Season Kickoff: The Best Racing-Inspired Watches

For avid Formula 1 fans, an exciting chapter in the 2026 season has already begun: Starting in mid-February, the teams get the chance to test out their cars for pre-season competition in Bahrain. But now, the time for real racing is just around the corner.

The 2026 Formula 1 season officially starts on March 7 with the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix. With three practice rounds followed by the qualifying round and the official race on March 7, it is set to be a memorable weekend down under. The race takes place on the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, offering an unparalleled combination of breathtaking on-track action and stunning surrounding scenery.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the season opener being held on this gorgeous and challenging course, after the Australian Grand Prix moved from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996. With the winter testing months coming to an end, we expect this year’s true competitive order to reveal itself in Melbourne as spectators from around the world fly into this exquisite region to cheer on their favorite drivers.

As the lakeside park and challenging race course come alive for the season opener, celebrities and A-listers are sure to appear in droves in Australia. Whether you are watching the race from your couch, from the Melbourne stands, or from a private box overlooking the track, it is essential to dress the part. Discover some elite racing-inspired watches that perfectly encapsulate the heart-pounding drama and incredible sportsmanship of Formula 1.

Formula 1 threads that impressive needle between high-performance athleticism and global prestige. Like tennis, golf, and other so-called “gentleman’s sports,” this racing competition showcases the best of the best. It is also well-known for its connection to wealth, status, and class, attracting some of the world’s most powerful people to witness this pinnacle of engineering and design. (In that sense, one might even argue that Formula 1 is a bit like high-end horology.)

Many well-known faces travel to Formula 1 races throughout the nine-month season, which begins in Australia in March and ends in Abu Dhabi in December. One of the most famous celebrities who has been spotted in the paddock is Brad Pitt (this perhaps comes as no surprise, since he starred in the Oscar-nominated F1 movie as comeback driver Sonny Hayes).

Others who love this dynamic competition include Patrick Dempsey, Cameron Diaz, Eric Bana, Rowan Atkinson, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Fassbender, Chris Hemsworth, and others. F1 races in the United States are particularly big draws, with the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix attracting celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Nina Dobrev, Ashley Graham, and countless more.

It is no surprise that those who love luxury watches and those who appreciate and admire Formula 1 are often one and the same. If you love the precision engineering and flawless designs behind some of the top Formula 1 racing teams, horology may also appeal to you. If you love the wealth and prestige surrounding F1, the timeless elegance of high-end watches may speak to you in the same way. Perhaps it is time to find out.

Join us as we showcase five of our favorite racing-inspired watches that are perfect for the upcoming Formula 1 season. Who are you cheering for?

It would be an affront to Formula 1 culture as a whole if we did not begin this list with a Richard Mille timepiece. Better yet, this Richard Mille watch was created in collaboration with famed motorsports driver Felipe Massa. One of the brand’s first memorable athletic partners, Massa is a Brazilian racing driver who competed on the Formula 1 circuit for fifteen years. This watch, the RM 011, is crafted with the same commitment to durability and precision that F1 cars require.

Dubbed the “Yellow Flash Chronograph,” this model is limited to just 50 pieces and is a highly collectible item that is sure to bolster your luxury watch collection. The black carbon TPZ case is light yet durable, and the exposed screws around the tonneau-shaped bezel add a utilitarian and athletic look. The skeletonized dial offers an inside look at the intricate mechanics powering this 50 mm machine. For true Formula 1 aficionados, this watch is a nod to the sport’s prowess, history, and ongoing cultural importance.

The rugged younger sibling of the classic Royal Oak line, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore collection hit the market in 1993. Its official introduction raised some eyebrows, but the line quickly proved popular with a younger demographic that was looking for a more adventurous take on the Swiss icon. In the decades since, we have seen some incredible spins on the Offshore, including this attractive “Grand Prix” model.

This 44 mm watch offers a substantial, memorable profile perfect for a larger wrist. It is crafted from light and eminently wearable black carbon and shows off a black and red dial set with the chronograph subdials controlled by pushers on either side of the right-hand crown. The racing-inspired elements that dominate the dial evoke the aesthetic and athleticism of Formula 1, making it the perfect accessory for this year’s upcoming season.

We would be remiss to write about racing-inspired watches and gloss over the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Famed for its associations with motorsports legend Paul Newman, the Daytona is a staple of Rolex’s professional inventory. This vintage “Big Red” model is highly collectible and offers a more versatile 37 mm silhouette compared with the 40 mm dimensions that are in vogue today. The striking black dial and crisp white subdials and index hour markers offers a beautiful study in contrast. The tachymeter bezel and shiny chronograph pushers combined with the sleek Oyster bracelet perfectly complete the picture.

Why is this watch called “Big Red”? Take a look above the 6 o’clock subdial, and you will catch sight of the word Daytona printed in blocky red letters. This distinctive design is the hallmark of a true “Big Red” Rolex, and it is hard to find on the secondary market.

An exceptionally rare Richard Mille timepiece, the RM 010 “Sepang GP” edition is limited to just 20 pieces and is highly collectible. It is named for the Malaysian Grand Prix race, which started in 1999 and was a key part of the Formula 1 calendar until 2017, when Liberty Media took over the racing series. Formula 1 racing celebrated many important moments on the Sepang International Circuit, and this unique watch is even more in-demand since that grand prix was cancelled due to high hosting costs and new promotion strategies.

The “Sepang GP” edition Richard Mille watch is designed with motorsports inspiration at its core, offering a skeletonized dial that shows off its technical prowess. The 48 mm watch showcases unmatched attention to detail and a bold red color scheme that evokes the Malaysian Grand Prix’s biggest winner: Ferrari, of course. That team took home the cup in Sepang seven times over the race’s 18 years.

The classic Rolex Cosmograph Daytona designs have a historical connection to the world of motorsports and racing, but we have recently come across an exceptionally unique Daytona timepiece. This “Beach” edition Rolex Daytona is a one-of-a-kind watch that shows off bold colors and an unusually whimsical take on the classic racing watch. It is the ideal timepiece for a tropical Formula 1 race, perhaps the famed Miami Grand Prix. There is no doubt that this Rolex Daytona will be a holy grail acquisition for the right watch collector. Is that person you?

Here at Avi & Co., we offer a collection of luxury timepieces that appeals to collectors far and wide, both those looking for a trendy accessory and those looking for an heirloom timepiece. We strive to curate an elite inventory of the world’s most beloved watch brands, from Rolex to Richard Mille and from Audemars Piguet to Patek Philippe.

In addition, we have created three of our very own Avi & Co. watch lines and an exciting new collection of bespoke fine diamond jewelry to choose from. Visit us at any one of our three boutique locations to get a true taste of opulence fastened around your very own wrist.

Make an appointment today to shop with us in person. We look forward to welcoming you into the Avi & Co. family.