Richard Mille RM 011 Lotus F1 Team Romain Grosjean NTPT: Sprint in sixth gear

Wrapped in a material with a wood pattern but more durable than steel, the RM 011 has a casual look that reminds us of its amazing technology and impressive pole position.

Launched last year, the watch caused a stir because it was the first time NTPT carbon was used for a case. For the record, the watch was launched during the first trial of the season with Lotus' Formula 1 E22, driven by one of Richard Mille's partners, Romain Grosjean.

In 2007, the young driver won the F3 European Series. He won the GP2 Asia Series twice in 2008 and 2011. Since 2012, he has been a racing driver for Lotus and had the opportunity to test this ultra-light and sturdy watch in his Formula 1 car. We felt the need to do our own testing on one of the most powerful race cars. This is an opportunity to take a series of photos of the watch on the spot.

First off, once freed from the case, this watch certainly doesn't go unnoticed. Despite its size, its weight can be confusing as the watch weighs just a few grams. Futuristic watchmaking inventor Richard Mille mastered the art. In order to reduce the weight of this large reference without neglecting its strength, the research department set up in the manufacture chose to use NTPT (North Thin Ply Technology) carbon for machining the block in the middle of the case. It is an exclusive material consisting of 600 layers of carbon filaments.

As mentioned above, this is the first time this material has been used in watchmaking. It is commonly used for sailing, for example to make the Alinghi mast, and it is also used to make the battery components of the Solar Impulse 2, a solar powered aircraft. To achieve the extreme rigidity and lightness of the watch, the structure consists of several layers of parallel filaments obtained through a process of spacing carbon threads.