F1: The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski and presented by Apple Original Films, premiered across China on June 27, 2025.
In this Formula 1™-themed feature film, Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen appears as the official sponsor of the fictional APXGP racing team, with its branding prominently featured on the team’s cars, uniforms, and pit gear.
Lead characters wear IWC timepieces from the Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur collections throughout the film.
To mark the collaboration, IWC has introduced a new Ingenieur Automatic 40 Limited Edition watch and three APXGP-themed Pilot’s Chronographs.
IWC Schaffhausen Joins APXGP in Fictional F1™ Grid
Within the film, IWC plays the role of official sponsor to APXGP, imagined as an eleventh F1™ team.
The brand’s logos appear on various high-visibility areas: from front wings and Halo systems of the race cars to helmets, gloves, and race suits.
IWC models featured include the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 in stainless steel, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN in black zirconium oxide ceramic, and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 in stainless steel.
IWC's partnership with motorsport is well established, having served as official engineering partner to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team since 2013.
The brand’s CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr makes a cameo in the film, reflecting the brand’s deeper commitment to the racing world.
The Film: A Story of Redemption and Speed
F1: The Movie follows the story of Sonny Hayes, a former F1™ champion played by Brad Pitt, who returns to the grid after three decades away to help revive a struggling team.
Javier Bardem portrays Ruben Cervantes, a former teammate who persuades Hayes to make a comeback.
Damson Idris joins as rookie driver Joshua Pearce, whose rising talent presents both rivalry and renewal.
The story weaves personal redemption with the adrenaline-fueled world of elite racing.
Directed by Kosinski—known for Top Gun: Maverick—the film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Lewis Hamilton, and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment.
The score is composed by two-time Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, who is also an IWC brand ambassador.
Real Racing, Real Locations
Filming took place at real Grand Prix™ events and circuits, including Silverstone, Miami, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi.
Instead of using cinematic replicas, the crew built functional race cars using Formula 2 chassis and Mercedes-AMG GT components, painted in APXGP’s signature black and gold livery.
With speeds reaching up to 300 km/h, the vehicles delivered an authentic racing experience.
Both Pitt and Idris underwent months of professional driving training for the film.
Special chase scenes were filmed using a Mercedes GLE 63S camera car equipped with a 360-degree gyroscopic stabilization rig, capturing dynamic race footage at high speeds.
Limited-Edition Timepieces Inspired by the Film
To commemorate the collaboration, IWC unveiled the Ingenieur Automatic 40 Edition 'APXGP' (Ref. IW328908).
Limited to 1,000 pieces, this stainless-steel model features a green grid-pattern dial inspired by the custom watch worn by Brad Pitt’s character.
The indices are gold-plated and filled with Super-LumiNova®, offering enhanced legibility.
The integrated bracelet includes a butterfly folding clasp, while the watch itself is powered by the in-house 32111 calibre, offering a 120-hour power reserve and 10-bar water resistance.
Anti-magnetic protection is provided by a soft-iron inner case.
IWC also launched three APXGP-themed chronographs in its Pilot’s Watch collection:
Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 (Ref. IW388309): crafted in 18K 5N gold with a black lacquered dial and ceramic tachymeter bezel, worn in the film by Damson Idris.
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 43 APXGP (Ref. IW378009) and
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (Ref. IW388116): both stainless-steel models with black dials, white numerals, gold minute markers, and hands filled with white Super-LumiNova®. Their tinted sapphire casebacks are engraved with the gold APXGP logo and paired with black rubber straps laser-etched with commemorative details.
All timepieces draw inspiration from the fictional APXGP team and celebrate the fusion of motorsport engineering with fine watchmaking.
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