The high-performance mechanics behind the Richard Mille RM 65-01 McLaren W1

The RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren W1 is not just a watch — it’s a wearable race machine. Limited to 500 pieces, this fourth and latest collaboration between Richard Mille and McLaren channels the spirit of the esteemed British marque perfectly. And how better to cheer on McLaren Formula 1 Team drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri than with one on your wrist?

Housed in a Carbon TPT case inspired by the McLaren W1’s swooping lines from a top-down perspective, every angle pays tribute to the vehicle’s aerodynamic body. And Richard Mille has fine-tuned every detail of this striking design, which is built around the unique McLaren “aero-cell” architecture, resulting in the indented “double” bezel which posed one of the greatest technical challenges in its creation. Just half a millimetre thick and made of Carbon TPT layered with titanium, the ultra-thin bezel is a technical feat that gives the watch its distinctive depth and movement. 

On the skeletonised dial, McLaren’s signature wheel patterns hint at the supercar’s DNA subtly. Then there’s the function selector crown, which is a clever touch that lets you switch between winding, setting the date, and adjusting the time — just like shifting gears. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a McLaren partnership without that unmistakable papaya orange accent. The crown’s orange touch ties it right back to McLaren’s racing roots, and even the pushers are inspired by the lightweight seats in McLaren makes, keeping things as functional as they are stylish. 

Inside, you’ll find the Swiss luxury watch brand’s 480-part, most high-performance automatic chronograph movement, as well as a variable-geometry winding rotor that can be adjusted to your lifestyle. Beating at an appropriately high speed of 5Hz or 36,000 vph, the RMAC4 allows the watch to record elapsed times down to just one tenth of a second, while the movement’s vertical clutch and the two six-column wheels ensure precise and ultra-smooth activation of the chronograph.

The calibre also features a rapid-winding system that enables the 60-hour power reserve to be fully recharged in a flash — using a special push piece made from orange Quartz TPT.

Julien Boillat, Richard Mille’s casing technical director, sees this watch as the perfect harmony between brands. “Making this fourth watch in the series left us with the feeling that Richard Mille and McLaren are perfectly in tune,” he says. 

“We both work to the highest technical specifications with the most high-tech materials; ergonomics are as important to us as they are to them; and our design language really seems to have gelled. The interaction between our two teams and the partnership that it has created has, simply, become really strong,” he explains.

McLaren’s global marketing director Andrea Bermudez echoes this sentiment, noting, “The W1 was designed to give the driver everything they need and nothing they don’t. It is a daunting task to reflect these attributes in a watch, but Richard Mille has exceeded expectations with the RM 65-01 McLaren W1.” 

Like the supercar, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 is beyond the well-crafted tool it’s designed for; it’s for making a statement. An all-out performance watch, it is made for those who love the thrill of speed and an extreme machine — both on the road and on the wrist. Furthermore, this creation also shines off the tracks with a versatile design that can be worn daily or on special occasions. 

This story was originally published on The Peak Malaysia.