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Breitling's New F1 Chronograph Blends Classic Heritage with Modern Materials



It's a classic Navitimer chronograph, only lighter.

The term "tool watch" might be vague for some brands, but not for Breitling. The Swiss watchmaker's most renowned collections showcase functional design; even if we don't fully understand how they work, they clearly possess practical functions beyond simply telling time.

The most typical and famous example is the Navitimer, a watch equipped with a chronograph function and slide rule, designed to assist pilots with in-flight calculations.

While this complex chronograph was originally designed for aviation, it has a long history with motorsport. Breitling leverages this tradition by collaborating with the Aston Martin Amex Formula 1 team, a partnership that will officially launch in the 2026-2027 season.

In addition to the Breitling logo on the team's cars and equipment, a limited-edition Navitimer B01 chronograph Aston Martin Amex F1 Team Edition has been launched to celebrate this collaboration. This timepiece blends design elements from the 1950s—the era in which the Navitimer was born and Aston Martin first entered the F1 racing scene—with modern materials.

The case and dial retain much of the Navitimer's traditional look, including a three-tiered sliding bezel, a winged shield logo, and snail-patterned subdials—including a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock, and a small seconds hand at 9 o'clock.

A single numeral marks the 12 o'clock position, while the rest are represented by short horizontal lines. The date window is hidden within a subdial at 6 o'clock. All informational details on the dial, including the hour and minute hands, are coated with green luminescent material.

The 43mm case, dominated by a dangling coin-edge bezel, makes the pushers and the logo-adorned crown appear small, creating a powerful visual impact of a finely complex mechanic on the wrist.

The Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team's unique touch to this classic Navitimer watch lies in its subtle material upgrades.

Preparing for the Race
From a distance, the most striking detail of this Navitimer is undoubtedly the neon yellow chronograph seconds hand, echoing the team's colors. Just like the race car itself, this design is used subtly and elegantly, even appearing on the side of the custom leather strap.

Upon closer inspection, the intricate texture of the carbon fiber dial becomes apparent. This material, often used in F1 car cockpits, creates a mosaic-like pattern reminiscent of stone, incorporating the team's black and green hues. Furthermore, this material makes the watch lightweight enough for race day wear.

Another factor contributing to the weight reduction is the titanium case, case back, and bezel. Notably, this is the first time Breitling has used this alloy in a standard Navitimer chronograph, finished with a combination of brushed and polished edges.

Through the sapphire crystal case back, the Aston Martin Aramco F1 team logo is clearly visible and particularly striking. The case back also offers a clear view of the in-house B01 automatic movement, featuring a black PVD-coated tungsten alloy rotor engraved with the team logo.

This powerful, COCS-certified chronograph movement features a column wheel, a vertical clutch, a 4Hz frequency, and a 70-hour power reserve.

Unlike most other F1 watches released in recent years, Breitling has retained its classic mid-century design. I appreciate this approach of incorporating modern racing team elements into material upgrades, preserving the watch's classic look without compromising its beloved style.