Watches at the F1 Miami Grand Prix

The F1 fever is running at full speed in the United States. In its second year, the Miami Grand Prix has helped racing culture break through in the American sports market and pop culture scene. The biggest stars from the worlds of sports, entertainment, fashion, and beyond trekked to South Florida for some high-octane racing action, and of course, there were excellent watches on display. Check out our favorites from the F1 Miami Grand Prix weekend:

Lewis Hamilton’s IWC Big Pilot Mojave Desert

IWC brand ambassador and 7-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton showed up at a few racing events wearing the IWC Big Pilot Mojave Desert. Released in 2021, the watch takes inspiration from the namesake American desert landscape surrounding China Lake, where one of the US Navy’s stations is located.

The Big Pilot Mojave Desert remains true to the IWC Pilot’s design DNA with its dark brown dial, printed hour markers, and lume-filled hands. It also took on a larger 46mm ceramic case design in a versatile sand color and has a soft-iron inner case that makes it highly resistant to magnetic fields. 

The ref. IW389103 from 2019, pictured above, has a similar feel but with a chronograph and day display instead of a power reserve indicator. Photos from IWC and Lewis Hamilton on Instagram

Max Verstappen’s TAG Heuer Monaco “Dark Lord” Special Edition

Lewis Hamilton wasn’t the only driver whose watch was worth paying attention to during the recent F1 Miami Grand Prix. Max Verstappen wore a brooding version of an iconic classic while celebrating his third victory of the season – the TAG Heuer Monaco “Dark Lord” Special Edition, which was first introduced during the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix.

This timepiece stays faithful to the spirit of the Dark Lord ref. 74033N from the 1970s by using rose gold-plated hands and indices that recall the aged tritium on the original, along with a textured outer dial that has been stamped to give it a unique pebbled finish. The rest of the watch is entirely modern: it uses a 39mm DLC-coated titanium case and an automatic Caliber Heuer 02 movement with an 80-hour power reserve. Photo from Formula 1 on Instagram

Roger Federer’s Rolex Daytona Ceramic

Now-retired tennis superstar Roger Federer is all too familiar with Rolex watches, having been an ambassador of the brand since 2005. Thus, seeing him wear a Daytona to the race festivities is no surprise. 

Roger went for the most popular iteration of the iconic timepiece, the ref. 116500, which features a steel body, black dial and a metal-rimmed black Cerachrom bezel for a sharp look. The sporty elegant design is made more interesting with contrasting silver-outlined sub-dials and the red Daytona logo, which adds a subtle pop of color. Photo from Roger Federer on Instagram

LL Cool J’s Rolex Sky-Dweller Everose

Rapper LL Cool J introduced the 20 drivers on the grid while sporting a Rolex Sky-Dweller in Everose gold – a timepiece that evokes modern versatility and mechanical perfection.

Perfectly suited for jet-setters, LL Cool J’s choice model features raised Roman numerals on the dial instead of the baton-shaped indices the Swiss brand currently produces. Other standout features include the Caliber 9001 movement, which offers a 72-hour power reserve, and a fluted Ring Command bezel that gives the dial a more exquisite appearance. Photo from F1 Miami Grand Prix on Twitter

Tom Cruise’s Rolex Daytona Meteorite

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise was also recently spotted giving the Mercedes-AMG pit crew a helping hand while wearing an out-of-production white gold Daytona Meteorite from 2021. 

From a technical standpoint, this watch is the same Daytona you have known for decades but with a detailed textured space rock finish on the dial that is reminiscent of the Moon’s surface. Both the stark black bezel and the sub-dials provide contrast and make the watch recognizable from afar. Tom went for the ref. 116519LN, which is fitted with a Cerachrom bezel and Oysterflex bracelet. Photo from Tom Martin on Twitter

Patrick Mahomes’ Rolex Day-Date 40

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whose watch collection is composed of both timeless and trendy pieces, graced the event wearing one of his recent acquisitions and his dressiest timepiece to date – a Rolex President Day-Date in platinum.

Aside from being crafted from the noblest metal, this watch is distinguished by its trademark ice blue dial with a sunray finish that creates subtle light reflections. Baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel and hour markers add a touch of elegance. Photos from Rolex and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram