Richard Mille RM 43-01: A Ferrari On The Wrist

The second Ferrari-themed Richard Mille merges exceptional workmanship with Formula 1-inspired precision.

Watches have historically been intricately linked to motor racing. The issue of timing is crucial in the sport, assessing the performance of teams and their drivers during a race weekend. However, there exists a synergy between the mechanical components of both. Both exquisite timepieces and high-performance automobiles are driven by a sophisticated assembly of dynamic components that surpass the mere aggregation of their individual constituents. Since the 1970s, watch brands have been associated with the apex of motorsport, Formula 1. No brand has epitomized the high-tech, glitzy essence of the sport more than Richard Mille.

Established in 2001, the Swiss brand swiftly transformed the sports watch, introducing a novel aesthetic that fused F1-inspired design with intricately skeletonized, complex mechanisms. Richard Mille's signature was rapidly characterized by tonneau-shaped casings that utilized carbon fiber and titanium in unprecedented manners. Emphasis was placed on lightness and shock resistance, leading to prominent figures such as Jay-Z and Pharrell referencing the brand in their lyrics. In 2004, a significant milestone was achieved when the company appointed its inaugural ambassador, the young second-year Formula 1 driver, Felipe Massa. In a rare occurrence for a partnership, no financial transactions took place. Instead, he would receive a watch to wear while driving his Sauber C23.

I conversed with Massa during the unveiling of Richard Mille's latest partnership, this time with Ferrari for the exceptional RM 43-01. “We sought a watch brand to sponsor me, and my manager encountered a photograph of a Richard Mille in a magazine,” he informs me. He dialed the telephone number and engaged in conversation with a representative from the brand. Subsequently, that individual stated, “Richard Mille is present.” Would you like to converse with him? He acquiesced, and the subsequent events are well-documented.

“Richard Mille was exceedingly eager to engage in the realm of Formula 1 and to sponsor a driver,” he continues. He was already acquainted with me and stated that he was constructing an entirely new timepiece, the RM 006, which would be the lightest tourbillon. He expressed that he would be exceedingly pleased if I assumed the role of his ambassador, while simultaneously wearing the watch in the vehicle. Richard stated, “We lack funds at this moment due to significant investments in the company; however, it would be beneficial for Felipe to commence with the 006 watch.” I was elated, and for every subsequent race, I wore a Richard Mille watch on my wrist. Being a member of the family is akin to entering Ferrari; once you join, you are perpetually a Ferrari driver.

It was a clever maneuver. Massa subsequently joined Ferrari two years later, contending for race victories and securing the Constructors’ Championship for the team in 2008, so providing significant publicity for both himself and his sponsor, Richard Mille, who supported him throughout his career. Massa departed from Ferrari in 2013 and exited Formula 1 entirely in 2017. At that time, Richard Mille was already a sponsor of McLaren. Subsequently, in 2021, it formed a partnership with Ferrari.

The inaugural watch resulting from that agreement was the exceptional RM UP-01: an ultra-slim, technical achievement with a thickness of merely 1.75mm. The most recent release, presented in Paris with Massa and Alain Prost, appears more characteristically Richard Mille. However, it remains as remarkable. The RM 43-01 Ferrari, worn by current Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, is a tourbillon split-seconds chronograph available in grade 5 microblasted titanium or pure carbon TPT. Both timepieces are restricted to merely 75 units and will exceed £1 million, rendering them quite exclusive.

The Ferrari-inspired embellishments render them even more exceptional. A comprehensive creative partnership with Ferrari’s Centro Stile and chief design officer Flavio Manzoni, both timepieces use elements derived directly from the Prancing Horse’s automotive and racing vehicles. The movement reference displays stars on both sides, emulating the chassis number of a 365 GTB. The watch's bridge is modeled after the crankcase of an SF90 Stradale, while the movement screws resemble the engine screws of Ferrari's current 6.5-liter V12 that powers the 12Cilindri. The strap exhibits the identical pattern present on the Purosangue’s seats, while the Cavallino logo plate draws inspiration from the design of the rear wing end plates of the Le Mans-winning 499P.

What was Ferrari's strategy about the partnership? “The initial consideration should be our shared values, of which we possess many,” states Manzoni. There exists the pursuit of perfection, the pursuit of innovation, and the remarkable coexistence of beauty, technology, and performance. We take great pride in the watch. Each time my team and I undertake this type of job, it is remarkable. It is fantastic to shift our focus from automobiles to [this watch].

Will future Ferrari models ever use components like the skeletonized movements and TPT cases of Richard Mille? “There exists a reciprocal feedback mechanism, suggesting that one day you may encounter elements in our future vehicles inspired by this remarkable journey.”