Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari and Richard Mille: the racing star sported the million-dollar RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon in Shanghai for his first Sprint win with the Scuderia

Mar 29 , 2025

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton wearing the new Richard Mille RM 43-01. Photo: Handout

As Hamilton wins in China, the luxury watchmaker unveils the new RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph in Paris, with legendary race veterans Alain Prost and Felipe Massa in attendance

The Formula One season has just begun, and Lewis Hamilton notched his first win for Ferrari in the Sprint Race at the Shanghai Grand Prix. On his wrist was a Richard Mille watch, one of several the seven-time world champion has been sporting from the brand in the past few weeks since joining the Scuderia, specifically the RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon with a stunning gold edged Carbon TPT case. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, wore the RM 67-02 “Italy”.

One of the perks of driving for Ferrari is access to these extraordinary, exclusive watches from luxury watchmaker Richard Mille, which has been sponsoring the Scuderia since 2021. The partnership yielded the incredible RM UP-01 in 2023, a concept watch, just 1.175mm thick. The ultra-complicated timepiece was an idea that was already on the drawing board before the signing of the partnership and is often seen on the wrist of music producer and Louis Vuitton designer Pharrell Williams.

The distinctive style of the RM 43-01. Photo: Handout

Their second partnership watch, the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari, was introduced in Paris just as the F1 practice sessions were starting in Shanghai. With Hamilton and Leclerc otherwise occupied in China, legendary race veterans Alain Prost and Felipe Massa were in attendance. In fact, Massa was Richard Mille’s first long-standing partner signing back in 2004, when the brand was just three years old, and whilst not paid, loyally wore their watches in every race.

The new timepiece has been conceived with Ferrari’s car designers and has more Ferrari in its DNA. The design reverts to the traditional tonneau shape, but with an aerodynamic profile that adopts the smooth airflow incorporated into the sports car design. The cases are made in either titanium or Carbon TPT (layered sheets of carbon fibre) – both lightweight.

There were weekly meetings over nearly three years to discuss the integration of materials and details into the watch such as the pushers following the same shape as the signature Ferrari rear lights; design elements from the clutch inspiring the barrel jewel setting; and the crankcase in the chassis echoed in the titanium minute counter bridge, partially visible in the openwork skeleton design.

The RM 43-01 in Carbon TPT. Photo: Handout

The tourbillon has been moved to 5 o’clock to allow for Ferrari’s famous prancing stallion to be engraved on a plate shaped like the wing from the F1 car to appear at 7 o’clock. The RM 43-01 comes equipped with the latest-generation split-seconds mechanism – to measure those lap times, of course, as well as to optimise the chronograph.

These sexy new watches come at a price for ardent Ferrari fans: the titanium version is US$1.3 million and the Carbon TPT is US$1.535 million, each limited to 75 pieces. The price is down to the research and development with complicated components, explains Alexandre Mille, who co-runs the brand with his sister Amanda Mille and Maxime Guenat since the retirement of Richard. He points out how difficult these watches are to produce.

The RM 43-01 in titanium. Photo: Handout