The history of commercial partnerships between watch companies and Formula 1 began in 1972 when Jack Heuer struck a deal with Enzo Ferrari to provide timing equipment to Ferrari. But the advent of digital technology in the early 1970s totally changed the timing landscape, not only from a technical point of view, but also from a commercial one. In fact, the responsibility within the teams for timing laps was often given to the wives or girlfriends of the drivers themselves. The era of qualifying laps with mechanical timepieces is long gone.īack in the good old days of the 1960s, everyone used mechanical stopwatches to time laps. Former CEO of Rolex Gian Riccardo Marini and Bernie Ecclestone,īut despite this close link, don’t expect to see officials at Monaco timing the race with their Platinum Daytona Chronographs. And so in 1964 when Rolex was considering a name for its new Chronograph, it’s only natural that it chose the name Le Mans….before deciding that perhaps Daytona had a better ring to it. Rolex of course has a long association with motorsport, both in Europe (Le Mans) and the US (Daytona). In fact, with two exceptions, the entire Formula 1 grid is aligned with a watch brand:Īnd of course, Rolex is the Official Timing Partner of Formula 1, having taken over from Hublot at the end of the 2012 season. The Monaco Grand Prix is about a lot more than who is wearing what, as it’s one of the largest global marketing events for watchmakers, with 10 brands involved over the four-day carnival. You might also see small swimsuits (oh yes, you will), but we’re here to focus on the wrist. Look closely at the crowd on the yachts in the harbour and you’ll see acres of tanned skin teamed with the latest shiny timepieces. This weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix is not only the glamour event on the Formula 1 calendar, but also one of the major showcases for the watch industry. I/trending 29674 IN-DEPTH: Timing Formula 1, a Compact History David Chalmers
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |