Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Felipe Massa spotted wearing Richard Mille

On the day Felipe Massa publicly announced his retirement from Formula 1 racing, cameras caught the Brazilian driver wearing a Richard Mille RM11 Flyback Chronograph GMT — a watch so closely associated with his identity on the paddock that the pairing felt less like styling and more like a full-circle statement. The light blue strap, contrasting against the titanium case, gave the sighting an unmistakable, composed elegance.

The Richard Mille RM11 reference Ti LMC 511.45AR.91Z-1 is a technically serious piece. Its case is machined from grade 5 titanium — the same aerospace alloy used in high-performance engine components — measuring approximately 50mm × 40mm in the characteristic RM tonneau form. Inside sits the calibre RMAC2, an automatic movement with flyback chronograph function, annual calendar, and a GMT complication, all viewable through the fully skeletonized dial. The column wheel and lateral clutch mechanism deliver precise chronograph actuation, while the baseplate and bridges in NTPT carbon or titanium keep weight to a minimum. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres.

The RM11 occupies an important place in Richard Mille's catalogue. Introduced in the mid-2000s, it was among the first references to cement the brand's relationship with Formula 1 culture — combining genuine horological complexity with a visual language derived directly from motorsport engineering. The Felipe Massa connection predates this specific sighting by years; Massa served as a Richard Mille ambassador during his time at Ferrari and Williams, and the brand produced dedicated Felipe Massa editions that became sought-after collector pieces in their own right.

For Massa, retiring after a career that included a near-fatal accident at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix and an agonisingly close 2008 World Championship, the symbolism of wearing this watch on retirement day is hard to miss. The RM11 was built for the race track; so was he.

On the secondary market, examples of the RM11 in titanium trade meaningfully above list price, reflecting strong collector demand for early-era Richard Mille references with clear provenance stories. The official list price at time of sighting was reported at approximately £85,000, with grey market values regularly exceeding that figure for well-documented or ambassador-linked references.