Andrew joins IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr for a four-part mini series all about Formula 1 and watches

Jamie Weiss

Over the years, the Time+Tide editorial team have been fortunate enough to spend lots of time with IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr, who easily ranks as one of the most charismatic and interesting CEOs in the watch biz. Indeed, earlier this year at Watches and Wonders Geneva, our founder Andrew McUtchen had a fantastic chat with Chris at IWC’s very Formula 1-themed booth about the brand’s 2025 novelties as well as how IWC has doubled down on its relationship with the world’s fastest motorsport, not only thanks to its long-standing and ever-deepening partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team but also through their involvement with the official F1 movie, which stars Brad Pitt and hits cinemas next week. However, the more time we can get with Chris, the better, so Andrew’s locked in some time with the man to record a four-episode mini-series coming from all angles on IWC and F1… And the first episode is now live!

In this first in-depth podcast episode, Chris and Andrew dive into the multifaceted relationship between IWC and F1, exploring the brand’s history in the sport, its evolution, and the intricate behind-the-scenes dynamics that define IWC’s presence in F1. Chris shares his personal journey from being a Formula 1 novice to becoming deeply immersed in the sport, alongside the growth of IWC’s partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team since 2013.

We won’t give you too many spoilers, but the episode weaves together stories about IWC watches inspired by racing and aviation themes, such as the Mojave Desert Pilot’s Chronograph, with fascinating insights into the escalating spectacle of F1 racing – from intimate racing circuits like Monaco to sprawling entertainment complexes like the futuristic Qiddiya racetrack. Chris also reflects on leadership and teamwork lessons learned from witnessing Mercedes’ Formula 1 dominance and how these lessons apply more broadly to the watch business.

Their discussion further touches on how companies and teams collaborate at an engineering and storytelling level, highlighting the synergy between watchmaking precision and high-performance motorsport. The episode closes with a preview of future discussions focusing heavily on watches and their intersection with Formula 1 culture – for those, though, you’ll just have to wait for parts 2 through 4 to drop. In the meantime, watch Andrew and Chris’ chat on YouTube above – and drop us a comment on YT with your thoughts, and what you want to see them chat about next!