I wasn’t sure what to anticipate when I met the renownedly cool Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen for a group interview a few days prior to the Singapore Grand Prix (GP) in September. After all, the F1 icon is known as the Iceman because of his well-documented monosyllabic interview responses. He has almost 300 races, 103 podium finishes, and 21 victories in his 18 years of racing.

Richard Mille, a luxury watch brand from Switzerland, hosted the 15-minute session, and it was a pleasant surprise to see the Finnish driver in a generally good—dare we say chatty—mood. When asked what he liked about the ultra-lightweight watch, Alfa Romeo Racing Team driver Kimi Raikkonen, who was wearing the new RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph on the day of its global launch, responded with a smile and a directness uncommon among watch ambassadors: “I’ve been in teams that worked with different watch brands, but I’ve never really been a guy who wears a watch, because they always felt uncomfortable and they never appealed to me.”

When we first signed the contract, I was a little dubious because I assumed it was just another watch company. However, I was taken aback when I received my watch because I was completely unaware that I was wearing it. For me, it’s the ideal watch because it looks fantastic and weighs nothing.

Raikkonen, who turned 40 this month, is one of the few drivers in the 2000s who is 40 years of age or older and still driving. The father of two is far from done, despite the fact that younger drivers are in the spotlight. He won the US Grand Prix last October while racing for Scuderia Ferrari. With 1.7 million Instagram followers, he is still one of the most well-liked F1 stars due to his continuously proven talent and endurance, as well as—perhaps more importantly—his reluctance to engage in public relations.

But like any athlete, he has had highs and lows. He was forced to retire from the Singapore Grand Prix after more than three-quarters of the race due to an accident with another vehicle. However, it seems that Raikkonen doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the past. “I’ve been very fortunate to be able to race with guys like [Michael] Schumacher and [Mika] Hakkinen,” he reflects at one point. I have a beautiful wife and two children, and I’m here today. I have always followed my own instincts. Even the less than ideal things I have done, I wouldn’t alter a thing. It’s all a part of education.What distinguishes the Kimi Raikkonen RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph from the others?

Seven grams of movement. Two A4 sheets of paper would weigh more than that. The RM 50-04 is also powered by the weight of the split-second chronograph tourbillon mechanism. This is achieved by skeletonization, which eliminates any extra material, and the use of ultra-light materials, such as titanium and carbon TPT.

Dial: The watch has many racing red highlights that pay homage to the Alfa Romeo C38 automobile. The Carbon TPT flange, the chronograph counters, the torque, power reserve, and function indications all get a boost from the hue.

Resistance: This watch’s construction provides an impressive 5,000 g impact resistance, which is more than enough to withstand the g-forces that Formula One drivers encounter (up to 6 g when cornering). We enquired if Raikkonen wore his watch when operating a motor vehicle. Sometimes, but not always, was his response. Alright.

Numbers: This watch’s homage to the legendary racer is further cemented by the number “7,” which alludes to Raikkonen’s racing number. On September 18, this special edition—which is limited to just 30 pieces—was first made public in Singapore.

Case: The colours of the RM 50-04 were influenced by Alfa Romeo’s C38 race vehicle. White Quartz TPT, which is used to make the bezel and caseback, has a layered appearance because of its 600 layers of ultra-fine silicon fibres (45 microns, or the thickness of a hair strand) that have been heated and saturated in a white resin. As a result, it is strong, lightweight, and resistant to heat and UV rays. Carbon TPT, which is composed of carbon fibres that undergo a similar process, is used to make the case midsection.