Kimi Antonelli Visits IWC Schaffhausen for the First Time

Fresh off the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team’s return from its summer break at last week’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, driver Kimi Antonelli touched down in Schaffhausen for the first time – just two days after celebrating his 20th birthday. With victories this season in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco and Belgium, the Italian prodigy is the youngest driver in Formula One™ history ever to lead the World Championship.

The visit began with a tour of the Manufacturing Center, which opened in 2018 and brings the production of movement components, manufacture calibers and cases together under one roof. The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula OneTM Team driver then sat down at the company’s headquarters in the heart of Schaffhausen’s old town to answer questions on everything from his racing career and summer holidays to his favorite IWC watches.

When arriving in Schaffhausen, Kimi Antonelli was wearing the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula OneTM Team” (ref. IW388108). In a pit stop moment, the driver then had a watch change on his wrist as he received the new team watch, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula OneTM Team (ref. IW388121). Launched internationally on the day of Kimi Antonelli’s visit to Schaffhausen, the fourth official team watch for IWC’s longstanding partner features an eye-catching purple dial. The bold color is inspired by Singapore’s national flower, a hybrid orchid called Vanda Miss Joaquin, and is said to represent resilience, boldness and innovation – traits and values that are also found in the shared universe of IWC and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula OneTM Team. Crafted from a robust and lightweight Grade 5 titanium alloy, the 41-millimeter chronograph features a dial in a deep purple shade – a first in IWC’s Pilot’s collection.