Faster Times

“Auto racing began five minutes after the second car was built,” according to the old line usually attributed to Henry Ford. And it didn't even require that—the first reported “race” in 1887 featured only one car. What the sport needed was accurate timing, and for decades Formula 1 and watchmaking have been synonymous and synchronous.

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This year, Tag Heuer revived its Formula 1 collection from the 1980s to mark its return as the official timekeeper of the sport. Since 2016, the Swiss watch brand has also had a partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing. Another grid contender is Girard-Perregaux, which produces an Aston Martin F1 edition that incorporates iridescent automotive paint on the dial. Meanwhile Richard Mille has partnerships with tw