Story Highlight
– Breitling becomes Official Watch Partner for Aston Martin.
– Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 launched for F1 team.
– Partnership emphasizes shared values and design heritage.
– First watch limited to 1,959 pieces, F1 debut year.
– Breitling branding to appear on AMR26 and apparel.
Full Story
Aston Martin and Breitling have formalised a collaboration, designating the luxury watchmaker as the Official Watch Partner for Aston Martin’s automotive ventures and its Formula 1 programme.
This partnership encompasses not only Aston Martin’s road cars, produced in Gaydon and St Athan, but also the team’s ambitions in the Formula 1 championship. The collaboration is marked by the introduction of the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, a limited-edition timepiece inspired by the aesthetics of contemporary Grand Prix racing.
Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, commented, “Aston Martin builds cars that are as much about presence as performance. We share that same heritage of iconic design: every line, finish, and proportion has purpose. Nothing is left to chance.”
Lawrence Stroll, executive chairman of Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, explained that the alliance is vital for achieving success at the pinnacle of motorsport. “Our pursuit of a World Championship demands partners who match our ambition,” he stated. “Today, we’re proud to welcome Breitling to the team. Beyond a shared heritage, we are united by values that drive everything we do.”
The historical ties between Breitling and Aston Martin date back over a century. In 1907, Léon Breitling unveiled the Vitesse chronograph, engineered for high-speed measurements. Around the same time, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford celebrated a landmark victory at Aston Hill, an achievement that ultimately led to the creation of the Aston Martin name.
Both brands have since journeyed in the realms of racing and aviation. Aston Martin entered Formula 1 in 1959, while Breitling’s Navitimer, first introduced in 1952 as a pilot’s instrument, gained traction among Formula 1 drivers like Graham Hill and Jim Clark, who were also aviation enthusiasts. By the 1960s, their shared identities as icons of performance and innovative design were solidified, particularly with their joint feature in the film Thunderball (1965).
“Aston Martin and Breitling have crossed paths at key moments in design and culture,” said Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin. He noted that the partnership highlights “excellence, design mastery and performance, something that is integral to everything that Aston Martin puts its name to.”
The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team represents the partnership’s inaugural product, re-establishing the Navitimer within a racing framework. The limited edition of 1,959 pieces nods to Aston Martin’s entry into Formula 1, incorporating a lightweight titanium case, a first for the Navitimer collection.
The watch showcases Aston Martin Racing Green with lime accents that reflect the team’s livery, while a carbon-fibre dial borrows elements from F1 cockpits. Its textured leather strap is reminiscent of racing harnesses, and increased luminescence improves visibility in dim lighting.
Visible through the sapphire caseback, the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 boasts COSC certification, a 70-hour power reserve, and features a matte-black tungsten rotor coated with durable PVD, bearing the Aston Martin Formula One Team logo along with the inscription “One of 1959” and the phrase, “Instruments for Drivers.”
The partnership will be prominently displayed during the unveiling of the AMR26 on 9 February, with Breitling branding featured on both the car and team apparel. The competitive debut is set for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, scheduled for 6 to 8 March 2026.
