The Journal
IWC Welcomes Kimi Antonelli to the F1 Stage
Shipping and delivery conditions
MEET MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE™ TEAM’S NEW DRIVER AND LATEST MEMBER OF THE IWC FAMILY
With the new Formula One™ season fast approaching, one driver has every reason to be excited to get behind the wheel: Kimi Antonelli. At just 18, the Bologna-born talent is set to make his F1 debut with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team, becoming the third youngest full-time driver in the sport’s history. Antonelli joined the Mercedes Junior Team in 2019 after dominating the karting scene and now steps up to partner George Russell, who enters his fourth season with the Silver Arrows.
Since 2013, IWC Schaffhausen has been the “Official Engineering Partner” of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team, which holds the record for the most consecutive constructors’ titles. To celebrate this partnership, IWC has launched two special timepieces: the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team (Ref. IW356201) and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team (Ref. IW328210). To mark the occasion, the IWC JOURNAL caught up with Antonelli, who was recently welcomed into the IWC family.
— Mercedes F1 Driver Kimi Antonelli wearing the Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team IW328210
READY TO HIT THE TRACK
Just a month to go before the start of the Formula 1 season - how are you feeling?
I’m feeling great. It’s a dream coming true. Finally, we’re getting started, and I really cannot wait to hit the track. I can’t wait to be back racing once again.
Since your announcement in August that you would be driving for the Team in 2025, has time flown?
So many things have happened. The announcement itself was already a big moment. After that, I started spending a lot of time trackside with the team. F2 has a 2.5-month break, so during that time, I traveled with the F1 team, did some teambuilding and worked on understanding how everything operates. That was a really cool experience.
What excites you most about working together with Toto Wolff and George Russell as part of this team?
I’ve known Toto for a very long time. I’ve been in the Mercedes Junior Team since 2019, so quite a while now. We have built a great relationship, and Toto is just a fantastic person - always supportive, no matter what. He is always there, and it’s really nice to work with someone like him. It’s also great to work with George. He is really experienced and an incredible driver, so I can learn a lot from him and push myself even further.
FIGHT FOR PODIUMS AND WINS
Are you prepared to keep up with Toto’s energy and passion for excellence?
Yes! That’s why I think it’s great to be with him - he is a very competitive guy. He keeps you on point. He demands the best of the best, not only from the car but also from us as drivers. That’s why we always need to stay sharp and in the zone to deliver our best.
What is your biggest goal for the season?
The main goal is, of course, to fight for podiums and wins. The mindset is always the same: own the track and try to win. It’s going to be difficult because the competition is very strong, but I’m working well with the team so far. If we start off in the right rhythm, I think we can achieve some great things.
Can you share a fun or surprising fact about yourself?
I love pasta! If I could choose one meal to eat for the rest of my life, it would be pasta. Also, when I was little, I used to play football before getting into racing. I was a striker. Another thing about me - I listen to older music rather than modern songs. And one more: I am a terrible singer! I just can’t sing. I would probably damage your ears.
— Kimi will become the 85th driver from Italy to start an F1 Grand Prix in Australia in 2025
— For Kimi Antonelli, IWC watches represent style, precision, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence on and off the track
TEAM PERFORMANCE
What excites you most about working with IWC and discovering our world of mechanical watches?
Over the past couple of years, I have become a big fan of wearing watches, so I’m super happy about this partnership with IWC. Watches are also a way to express your style – not just with your outfit, but also with a particular watch. I think it is going to be really fun. I have already spotted some really nice watches in your collection that I like and that would suit me well.
What stands out to you about our watches dedicated to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team partnership?
They represent performance for the whole team. Time is so important in our world, both for qualifying and for the race itself. So, to me, our watches really symbolize performance.
Thank you, Kimi, and best of luck for this season! :-)
Learn more about our new timepieces dedicated to the team.
— Built for impact – The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL meets Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 power
— The IWC 32101 manufacture caliber delivers 120 hours of power, visible through a tinted sapphire case back with Toto’s signature
BIG PILOT’S WATCH SHOCK ABSORBER XPL TOTO WOLFF X MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE™ TEAM (REF. IW356201)
Limited to 100 pieces, the new Shock Absorber – dedicated to Toto Wolff and his team – is engineered to withstand the enormous stresses of Formula One™. Its shock absorber spring, made from bulk metallic glass (BMG), shields the blackened movement from extreme g-forces, while its Ceratanium® case provides both lightness and durability. The newly designed triangular black hands and the shock absorber spring are coated with Petronas-green Super-LumiNova®, glowing in the dark. The black dial features a grainy technical structure, stamped into the brass base with a special tool. Powered by the IWC-manufactured caliber 32101 with a 120-hour power reserve, it comes with both Petronas-green and black rubber straps. The patented SPRIN-g PROTECT® shock absorber system was developed by IWC’s engineering division XPL and first introduced in 2021 with the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL (Ref. IW357201).
— The Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team has a matte gray titanium case, a black dial, and a rubber strap in Petronas green
— Reference IW328210: Hexagon-engraved case back, IWC-manufactured 32111 caliber movement (120-power reserve), 10 bar water resistance and Petronas green EasX-CHANGE® strap
PILOT’S WATCH MARK XX MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE™ TEAM (Ref. IW328210)
Designed for performance on and off the track, the new Pilot’s Watch Mark XX combines cutting-edge materials and precision engineering. Featuring a 40 mm grade 5 titanium case, it offers exceptional strength-to-density ratio, just like the high-performance materials used in F1 cars. The black dial is accented with signature Petronas green numerals and Super-LumiNova® hands, while the engraved case back pays tribute to the team. Powered by the IWC-manufactured 32111 caliber with a 120-hour power reserve, it is water-resistant to 10 bar and comes with a Petronas green rubber strap featuring the EasX-CHANGE® system. Team members including mechanics, engineers and race strategists will wear it trackside throughout the 2025 season.
