The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher pays homage to the racing legend’s spirit of determination and innovation.

Michael Schumacher is a motorsport legend. Over the course of his Formula 1 career, spanning from 1991 to 2012, he contested 308 races. He is the record-holder of some of the most important benchmarks in the F1 world, including most championships (7), race victories (91), pole positions (68) and most races won in a single season (13).

Those of us who have followed his career are well aware of his legacy. Now, Audemars Piguet has paid homage to Schumacher, capturing the essence of the man and creating a new wristwatch, the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher

As Jean Todt, a close friend of Michael Schumacher and President of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) said:

“Michael is rightly famous for his sense of meticulousness, both in his work with the engineers and also in his determination and ability to race against every second. Thus, a mechanical watch which is not only beautiful but also an accurate instrument for timing motorsport does perfectly correspond to the high technology and precision which are so dear to him. It reflects the same spirit of determination and innovation on which he built his career as a F1 driver.”

About the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer

Before the use of modern technology, motor racing was timed from the start/finish line on the track with two or more hand-held stop watches. As a lap was completed, the first watch would be stopped and the second started. Another method would be to use a split-second chronograph, but it could only measure intermediate times.

The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher is the world’s first mechanical chronograph with alternating consecutive lap timing. It also has a fly-back function designed for continuous timing and high precision. How did the technical department of Audemars Piguet pull this off?

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher

Technical Innovations

The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer features innovative functionality, including a movement which has no fewer than three column wheels. The resulting complexity of the movement means that it contains several unique components which cannot operate satisfactorily using traditional lubricants. The engineers at Audemars Piguet opted for using solid lubricant instead, which remains consistent and offers greater longevity than traditional lubricating methods.

The end result? The 2923 calibre operates at a frequency of 4 Hertz = 28,800 vibrations/hour, meaning that it’s capable of recording times down to one-eighth of a second, which would only really be useful on the racetrack.

A Schumacher Inspired Design

The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer, which of course carries the Michael Schumacher name, reveals references to the man who inspired it. Most obviously, the celebrated ‘MS’ monogram appears on the laptimer pushpiece.

The watch also pays homage to his Formula 1 career. It will be strictly limited to 221 pieces, paying homage to the number of F1 World Championship point-winning races in which Schumacher competed. In that sense, watch collectors are lucky that Schumacher was such a successful driver! In addition, when seen from the side the watch looks like you are staring down the nose of a Formula 1 racecar.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher

According to Sabine Kehm, Michael Schumacher’s agent:

“Michael has always been a watch lover and connoisseur. Like any engineer who is driven by details. But, as is usual with F1 drivers, he is also permanently looking at the next step, the better solution, the greater challenge - and this is how the Laptimer project started.”

Michael was very involved in the Audemars Piguet project, and the team felt that not completing it was never an option. As a sign of respect, the watch is being unveiled in Michael’s own environment, the Corinna Schumacher CS Ranch. (VJ)