Richard Mille has taken up Official Timekeeper duties at Scuderia Ferrari, the Formula One racing team of the legendary Italian carmaker.
Hublot and Scuderia Ferrari parted company at the end of last year after a nine year partnership that spawned around 70 special edition watches, many of them co-created using engineers and designers from both companies.
Richard Mille’s multi-year agreement with the carmaker encompasses Formula One, WEC endurance programs, Competizioni GT, Ferrari Challenge, Ferrari Driver Academy and Esports.
Richard Mille says it will develop a specific range of watches through close collaboration of its watchmaking team in Switzerland and Ferrari’s design department.
“Everyone knows Ferrari is an iconic brand with an incredible history, and a true following from the legendary ‘tifosi’ right through to multiple collectors of classic cars. We see this as a true partnership with multiple developments at its heart of our watches with Ferrari’s designers and engineers. The whole team is thrilled about the collaboration with Ferrari and committed to creating a strong and passionate partnership,” Mr Richard Mille says.
Mattia Binotto, managing director and team principal at F1 team Scuderia Ferrari, adds:
“I am very pleased about this new multi-year partnership. Ferrari and Richard Mille share many common values, from technology to use of similar materials, as well as the passion we put into coming up with and designing our products. Both brands bear the name of their founder and represent their dreams and visions. The partnership will have a wide reach and I am particularly pleased that it also extends to the Ferrari Driver Academy. Richard Mille is a great racing fan and shares our commitment to bringing along talented youngsters and to attract young people to motor sport.”
In 2016, the McLaren Formula One team announced a ten year partnership with Richard Mille so the watchmaker will have two teams lining up on the grid of this year’s first Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain next month with branding on their bodywork.
McLaren finished third in last year’s constructors’ championship with Ferrari a disappointing sixth.
