ReviewThe IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Edition: A Pit Lane Essential

Green means go—and IWC Schaffhausen aren’t waiting for the chequered flag to drop on the 2025 Formula One season. While the racetracks remain quiet until the middle of March, the Swiss watchmakers have already come out with their latest release: the Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.

This titanium-cased Mark XX arrives as Mercedes enters a new chapter. With seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton departed for Ferrari and 18-year-old prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli joining George Russell in the cockpit, the team’s signature Petronas green remains a constant—now wrapped around the wrists of engineers, mechanics, and strategists who will orchestrate the action from the pit wall. This is the third official ‘team watch’ in IWC’s lineup, following the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 editions released in 2022 and 2023.

The Partnership Lap

IWC’s relationship with the Silver Arrows dates back to 2013, making this the 12th year the Schaffhausen-based brand have served as ‘official engineering partner’ to a team that defined Formula One’s hybrid era. While both team and the watchmakers have produced numerous special editions featuring Mercedes-AMG Petronas branding, the concept of an official ‘team watch’ only began in 2022 with the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41.

IWC’s relationship with the Silver Arrows dates back to 2013, making this the 12th year the Schaffhausen-based brand have served as ‘Official Engineering Partner’ to a team that defined Formula 1’s hybrid era

The Mark series itself traces its lineage to far humbler beginnings—back to the 1940s, when the Mark X was issued to British military forces as part of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the Mark XI set the standard for aviation timepieces. After its 1993 civilian revival as the Mark XII, the collection evolved through several iterations before arriving at today’s Mark XX.

The Engine Room

Under the hood of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team beats the manufacturer’s calibre 32111. This self-winding movement delivers an impressive 120-hour power reserve—offering five full days of autonomy. Running at 28,800vph, it includes a hacking seconds function for precise synchronisation.

The 40mm grade-5 titanium case provides an optimal balance between wrist presence and comfort. Titanium’s exceptional strength-to-weight ratio is a key material in F1, where lightweight yet resilient components are essential for performance under extreme stress. The sand-blasted finish gives the metal a subtle technical appearance that complements the matt black dial. The Mark XX maintains a 100m water resistance, making it more than capable of handling daily wear and occasional water exposure.

Team Colours And Everyday Versatility

The Mark XX team edition’s identity hinges on its strategic use of Petronas green. This signature colour appears consistently across numerals, indices, hands, and date wheel—a thoughtful integration rather than mere decoration. The Super-LumiNova maintains this green glow in darkness, while the engraved caseback combines hexagonal patterns with the full team designation. A matching rubber strap completes the package.

What elevates this collaboration above typical sports watches is its functional integrity. While unmistakably a Mercedes F1 timepiece, it preserves the Mark XX’s essential pilot watch DNA without resorting to oversized dimensions or gimmicks. The Petronas green transforms an otherwise utilitarian black-dialled instrument into something distinctive yet wearable beyond race weekends.

IWC’s inclusion of their easX-change system acknowledges a practical reality: team personnel move between high-intensity pit environments and corporate settings where a bright green strap might not be desired. This quick-change capability extends the watch’s versatility significantly.

Racing Heritage

In 2022, IWC launched their maiden official team watch—the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. This stainless steel chronograph established the visual language we see today, pairing that distinctive Petronas green with a matt black dial. Powered by IWC’s in-house calibre 69385 with column-wheel construction, it packs 231 individual parts into a movement offering a 46-hour reserve. While mechanically more complex than its Mark XX successor, that first iteration demonstrated how seriously IWC approached the collaboration. 

Chequered Flag

As the 2025 Formula One season approaches with its new driver lineup and fresh challenges, IWC’s latest team watch represents both continuity and evolution. The Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team successfully translates the technical precision and distinctive identity of both brands into a wearable timepiece. It demonstrates how sports partnerships can yield products with genuine integrity rather than mere logo-swapping exercises. Whether viewed as a collectible for F1 enthusiasts, a daily wearer for those drawn to its Petronas green accents, or an actual tool for the team members who’ll rely on it at circuits around the world, this Mark XX is proof that IWC value authentic collaboration over mere co-branding.