Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has partnered with "F1 The Movie," a new film produced by Apple Original Films and directed by Joseph Kosinski. The movie premiered globally on 27/6.
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The IWC Schaffhausen logo appears on the front wing, Halo, and gloves of the race car. Photo: IWC Schaffhausen |
The IWC Schaffhausen logo appears on the front wing, Halo, and gloves of the race car. Photo: IWC Schaffhausen
In the film, IWC Schaffhausen is an official sponsor of APX GP, the 11th team competing in the Formula 1 championship. The brand's logo is visible on the cars' front wings and Halos, as well as on the drivers' racing suits, helmets, gloves, team uniforms, and in the garage area.
IWC watches, known for their precision and performance, are worn by characters in the film. According to the company, this prominent placement highlights the connection between fine watchmaking and the high technology of motorsport.
Director Joseph Kosinski said the collaboration with IWC was a natural fit. For over a decade, IWC has been the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, giving the brand significant credibility in motorsports.
"Therefore, this partnership became an integral part of the filmmaking process," Kosinski said.
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Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) wearing the Ingenieur Automatic 40 Ref. IW328908. Photo: IWC Schaffhausen |
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) wearing the Ingenieur Automatic 40 Ref. IW328908. Photo: IWC Schaffhausen
The film stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a veteran racer who returns to the track to mentor young teammate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) and support the APX GP team. Kerry Condon plays Kate McKenna, Formula 1's first female technical director, who guides APX GP on their quest for victory. Filmed at real Grand Prix races, "F1 The Movie" offers audiences an authentic and immersive experience.
To bring the Hollywood experience to fans, IWC recreated elements of the film at the 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting, a vintage motorsport event IWC has partnered with since 2015. Actors Damson Idris and Kerry Condon discussed their two years of filming at real race tracks. Visitors also saw the APX GP car used in the film, which was built on an F2 chassis and modified to resemble a modern F1 car, equipped with specialized cameras for high-speed filming.
One highlight was a demonstration of how the film's dramatic chase scenes were filmed, performed by stunt drivers who worked on "F1 The Movie" at Silverstone.
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The speed demonstration at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting. Photo: IWC Schaffhausen |
The speed demonstration at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting. Photo: IWC Schaffhausen
Along with the racing experience, IWC showcased new watches inspired by the film at a pop-up store during the event. A standout piece was the Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a green dial (Ref. IW328908), a limited edition based on Sonny Hayes's prop watch. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP (Ref. IW378009) and Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (Ref. IW388116) also highlight the partnership between IWC and the fictional APX GP team.
Also displayed was the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 in 18K 5N gold (Ref. IW388309), IWC's first high-performance chronograph crafted from precious metal. This model is worn by Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) in the film.
"As a brand with a long-standing connection to motorsport, we couldn't miss the opportunity to be part of this special project. The fact that the film was shot with real race cars on real tracks made us incredibly excited, and it's sure to deliver a thrilling cinematic experience," said Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
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Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (Ref. IW388116). Photo: IWC Schaffhausen |
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (Ref. IW388116). Photo: IWC Schaffhausen
In Vietnam, S&S Group is the distributor of IWC Schaffhausen. With experience in building and bringing luxury brands closer to local enthusiasts, S&S Group promises to convey IWC's heritage and philosophy to those who appreciate fine timepieces and pursue precision and performance. The partnership between IWC Schaffhausen and S&S Group marks a significant milestone, signifying the presence of a Swiss watchmaking icon in Vietnam.
Hai My
Contact IWC Schaffhausen Boutique:
Address: Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, 15 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Opening soon.
