McLaren-Honda have announced a new ten-year partnership with luxury watchmakers Richard Mille, replacing Tag Heuer who departed at the end of 2015 to move to Red Bull Racing.
The long-term partnership will see both Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso wear Richard Mille timepieces, while the branding will also appear on the 2016 MP4/31 that is set to be launched this Sunday in the pit lane at the Circuit de Catalunya.
“I’ve watched with quiet admiration as Richard and his team have built up the Richard Mille brand over the past 15 years,” said McLaren CEO Ron Dennis. “To have established himself at the vanguard of the watchmaking world in such a short space of time is an incredible achievement, and a testament to his vision and determination.
“For him to commit Richard Mille to a 10-year partnership with McLaren underlines our shared belief in the value of long-term agreements, and the benefits that can be derived from growing and developing together.
“The two brands share a distinct common DNA: a passion for design, technology and aesthetics, and I’m excited about the great work we can achieve together over the next 10 years.”
Richard Mille has long been associated with motorsport, and has in recent years been assisting Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc through the early stages of his career, but the Chairman and CEO of Richard Mille Horometrie SA was happy to be now also aligned with McLaren.
“As both a passionate aficionado and long-time advocate of international motorsport, I’m incredibly pleased and proud to be able to announce our new partnership with McLaren-Honda,” said Mille.
“The McLaren brand has existed at the very pinnacle of Formula 1 racing for 50 years, and its reputation for continual technical innovation, painstaking attention to detail and race-winning success perfectly matches the philosophy of the Richard Mille brand.
“The chance to partner with McLaren is particularly timely: we’ve been evaluating Formula 1 on a restricted basis for several years, but this opportunity has enabled us to engage in a deeper, more meaningful way, with proper focus and effort directed on a major team.”
