Few brands share a partnership’s philosophy of blending performance and beauty akin to what Richard Mille and McLaren have. Their latest creation, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1, embodies the best of both worlds — Richard Mille’s watchmaking prowess and McLaren’s pursuit of perfection of relentless performance.

The new split-seconds chronograph is inspired by the simultaneous release of McLaren’s latest W1 supercar (if you must know, it’s a successor to the legendary F1 and P1 models). The automotive world can tell you this about the new hot ride: it’s a real supercar. What they mean is that it’s better, it’s sexier, it’s faster. Drew Coblitz, automotive columnist for Revolution says, “The McLaren W1 is cool because it’s the newest Ultimate Series (McLaren’s halo car line) that features an incredible amount of new, race-derived technology to shed weight nearly everywhere imaginable, while still remaining road legal and sporting over 2200 lbs of downforce.

“Most hybrids are known to be incredibly heavy due to the battery packs, and McLaren has managed to whittle the weight of this ttv8 hybrid hypercar to a dry weight of just over 3000 lbs. Equipped with 1,258 hp, its weight to power ratio is obscenely strong (2.45 lbs per hp) and it’s been quoted to have a 0-124 mph acceleration time of just 5.8 seconds. There is no question the W1 will be an absolute weapon on the track, and still be engaging to drive on the road.” So, what’s the watch to wear when you’re hitting the gas on this orange bolt of lightning?

Inside the RM 65-01 McLaren W1

Since the collaboration began in 2016, Richard Mille and McLaren’s partnership has continually shared a commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, precision, and performance. Their joint creations include the RM 50-03 McLaren F1, the lightest split-seconds chronograph ever made, as well as the RM 11-03 and the RM 40-01, both of which echo McLaren’s design principles and incorporate elements from their supercars.

This principle translates into the design of the RM 65-01 McLaren W1, a limited edition of just 500 pieces. In 2022, Richard Mille’s Creative Director Cécile Guenat and her team gained exclusive access to the first mock-ups of the W1, drawing inspiration from the supercar’s “aero-cell” architecture. This resulted in the RM 65-01’s distinct double bezel design, which posed a significant engineering challenge. The upper bezel, made of Carbon TPT and grade 5 titanium, took nine months to perfect through eight prototypes, with its thinnest point measuring just 0.5 mm.

Composed of multiple layers of carbon fibers, each layer is impregnated with resin and woven to withstand pressures of up to 6 bars. The resulting material is 25% more resistant to breaking stress and 200% more resistant to micro-cracks than traditional carbon composites — making it a perfect choice for both high-performance watches and race cars.

The architectural design of the RMAC4 caliber includes skeletonized baseplate and bridges in grade 5 titanium. It’s built around a 6-column wheel system, ensuring optimal simultaneous movement, precise locking, and greater long-term durability. The power reserve sits at approximately 60 hours while the fast-beating free-sprung balance ensures accuracy to 1/10th of a second. Additional functions include the rapid winding mechanism, allowing the watch to be quickly rearmed if it hasn’t been worn for extended periods. 

Tech Specs: Richard Mille RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren W1

Movement: Automatic-winding RMAC4 caliber; 60-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; small seconds; date; split-seconds chronograph;  30-minute and 12-hour counters; function selector, rapid winding and variable-geometry rotor
Case: 43.84mm × 49.94mm (16.19mm thick); Carbon TPT; water-resistant to 50m
Dial: Microblasted grade 5 titanium with black galvanic treatment, satin finished
Strap: Black or orange rubber