Filming began in 2023 under the direction of Joseph Kosinski, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the 2022 blockbuster «Top Gun: Maverick.» A connection to IWC was already present back then—Tom Cruise sported a watch by the Schaffhausen brand in that film, too.

Now, Kosinski takes things a step further in his latest work by deploying an impressive visual technique: in-camera technology, where cameras are directly embedded into the race cars, capturing authentic cockpit perspectives.

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris

Leading the cast are Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes and Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce. The actors didn’t just pose behind the wheel for close-ups—many of the scenes were filmed during actual driving maneuvers by the stars themselves.

The result is a visual powerhouse that at times makes viewers forget they’re in a cinema and not trackside at a live Grand Prix.

APXGP Racing Suit - Film Stil (Image: Mathieu Bonnevie)

Two Watches, Two Characters, Two Life Paths

The protagonists, Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce, represent two distinct generations and philosophies in racing. This contrast is reflected not only in their personalities but also in the IWC watches they wear in the film.

Brad Pitt’s character wears the Ingenieur SL with a green dial, designed by legendary watchmaker Gérard Genta. Once misunderstood, poorly received, and eventually discontinued, the watch has since become a cult favorite among collectors—a symbol of overlooked greatness reborn.

Underrated Greatness and Belated Recognition

Sonny Hayes—accompanied by this timepiece on his wrist—is a brilliant but ill-fated driver whose career was cut short by a serious accident. Many years later, he receives an unexpected shot at a comeback—with a new car and a new team.

The parallels between the man and the watch are no coincidence. Both symbolize undervalued talent and delayed appreciation, achieved only through perseverance and enduring quality.

A Watch Created Especially for the Film

At Hayes’ side is Joshua Pearce, the young, energetic newcomer bursting onto the racing scene. Fast, modern, and ambitious, he wears the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41, a new IWC model developed exclusively for the film and released in two limited stainless steel editions.

Its design echoes the aesthetics of the APXGP race car, embodying progress, engineering, and sportiness.

Pilot's Watch Performance Chronograph 41 (Image: finews.com)

IWC Watches in the Collana Bar, Zurich (Image: Mathieu Bonnevie)

The Most Brilliant Failure

Before the feature film began, the audience was treated to a YouTube short titled «The Most Brilliant Failure,» setting the emotional tone. It weaves together the story of Sonny Hayes and that of Gérard Genta.

Both are visionaries whose brilliance went unrecognized at first—Sonny, the gifted driver whose career ended in tragedy before an unlikely revival, and Genta, the artistic watchmaker who underestimated his own Ingenieur design, only to later witness its acclaim.

In the video, Genta modestly remarks: «I am an artist, a painter. What do I know about watches?» That humility is mirrored in Sonny Hayes' final scene: when asked if he can drive a race car, he responds with quiet restraint.

Their greatness lies not in bold claims, but in what they create and achieve.

Cinema Arthouse Le Paris in Zurich, Stadelhofen. (Image: Mathieu Bonnevie)