Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team Principal Toto Wolff knows what happens when precision engineering meets extreme forces. From the cockpit to the pit wall, split-second timing and mechanical resilience define success in modern motorsport. This new timepiece translates those same principles into a mechanical masterpiece, born from the partnership between IWC Schaffhausen and the championship-winning racing outfit.
The raw energy of Formula One™ racing demands extraordinary engineering solutions. Drivers experience crushing g-forces through every corner while their machines operate at the very edge of mechanical possibility. This unrelenting environment provided the perfect inspiration for IWC’s most technically advanced timepiece yet.
Racing DNA from track to timepiece
Formula One™ machines represent the pinnacle of mechanical engineering, where every component must perform flawlessly under extreme conditions. The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL applies this same philosophy to horology, featuring the revolutionary SPRIN-g PROTECT® system developed by IWC’s engineering division.
This sophisticated shock absorption technology mirrors the precision-engineered suspension systems found in modern Formula One™ cars. A cantilever spring, crafted from bulk metallic glass, provides superior elasticity compared to conventional metals. The spring’s unique profile distributes impact forces evenly, protecting the delicate movement much like a racing car’s suspension shields its driver.
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS technical excellence
The watch celebrates its motorsport heritage through distinctive design elements drawn directly from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. The signature PETRONAS green appears as a luminescent coating on the shock absorber spring, creating an otherworldly glow that echoes the team’s distinctive racing livery.
As the team welcomes rising star Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell for the 2025 season, this timepiece showcases the same pursuit of technical excellence that drives Formula One™ innovation. The black dial features a technically sophisticated grain pattern, while the floating minute scale demonstrates the same attention to aerodynamic detail found in modern racing car design.
Engineering beyond limits
The case and crown utilise Ceratanium® – a material that combines lightweight strength with exceptional durability, much like the advanced composites found throughout a Formula One™ car. This innovative material ensures the watch can withstand the same punishing forces that Toto Wolff’s prototype endured during countless high-pressure race weekends.
Beneath the surface, the IWC-manufactured 32101 calibre movement delivers performance worthy of its motorsport inspiration. The double pawl automatic winding system and 120-hour power reserve demonstrate the same relentless pursuit of efficiency that drives Formula One™ engineering.
Track-inspired finishing touches
True to its racing heritage, the timepiece arrives with both PETRONAS green and black integrated rubber straps. The tinted sapphire case back bears Toto Wolff’s signature, while the blackened movement components create a technical aesthetic that would look at home in any Formula One™ garage.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL represents a perfect fusion of two engineering disciplines operating at their absolute peak. Through this partnership with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team, IWC Schaffhausen has created a timepiece that captures the pure essence of modern motorsport excellence. Every component, from the revolutionary shock absorption system to the distinctive PETRONAS green accents, tells the story of precision engineering pushed to its absolute limit.