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Lot Essay
Introduced in 2007 and developed in collaboration with Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa, the RM011 perfectly embodies Richard Mille’s close relationship with motor racing. Its sophisticated automatic movement combines a flyback chronograph, allowing the chronograph to be reset and immediately restarted without first being stopped, with a 60-minute countdown function and an annual calendar displaying the month and oversized date.
The characteristic tonneau-shaped case is exceptionally complex to manufacture, requiring no fewer than 202 separate machining operations. The tooling alone demands eight days of adjustment for the bezel, five days for the caseband and a further five days for the caseback. This elaborate construction reflects a philosophy inspired directly by Formula One, in which the case and movement are conceived to function together in the same way as a racing car’s chassis and engine.
At its heart is the automatic calibre RMAC1, incorporating a double-barrel system to improve torque stability and Richard Mille’s innovative variable-geometry rotor. The latter can be adjusted according to the wearer’s level of activity, optimising the winding of the mainspring to suit different lifestyles. The bridges and case are further secured using spline screws, contributing to the rigidity and reliability of the construction.
Felipe Massa
Born in São Paulo on 25 April 1981, Felipe Massa began his Formula One career in 2002 and became one of the defining drivers of his generation. During his years with Scuderia Ferrari, he finished third in the Formula One World Championship in 2006 and second in 2008. Following his Formula One career, which concluded in 2017, Massa competed in Formula E with the Venturi team between 2019 and 2020 and subsequently continued his racing career in Brazil’s Stock Car Pro Series.
The characteristic tonneau-shaped case is exceptionally complex to manufacture, requiring no fewer than 202 separate machining operations. The tooling alone demands eight days of adjustment for the bezel, five days for the caseband and a further five days for the caseback. This elaborate construction reflects a philosophy inspired directly by Formula One, in which the case and movement are conceived to function together in the same way as a racing car’s chassis and engine.
At its heart is the automatic calibre RMAC1, incorporating a double-barrel system to improve torque stability and Richard Mille’s innovative variable-geometry rotor. The latter can be adjusted according to the wearer’s level of activity, optimising the winding of the mainspring to suit different lifestyles. The bridges and case are further secured using spline screws, contributing to the rigidity and reliability of the construction.
Felipe Massa
Born in São Paulo on 25 April 1981, Felipe Massa began his Formula One career in 2002 and became one of the defining drivers of his generation. During his years with Scuderia Ferrari, he finished third in the Formula One World Championship in 2006 and second in 2008. Following his Formula One career, which concluded in 2017, Massa competed in Formula E with the Venturi team between 2019 and 2020 and subsequently continued his racing career in Brazil’s Stock Car Pro Series.