History was made quietly in the Melbourne paddock. At the opening race weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season at Albert Park, Alpine Academy and F1 Reserve Driver Kush Maini was spotted wearing the Rotoris Astonia Sports Chronograph in Phantom Black — making Rotoris the first Indian watch brand to ever appear on the Formula 1 grid.
Rotoris Astonia Sports Chronograph: Key Specs
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Case | 42mm matte black stainless steel |
| Bezel | Tachymetre |
| Crystal | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Strap | FKM rubber |
| Movement | Seiko TMI VK63 meca-quartz |
| Technology | Rotoris Q-MATIC |
| Colourway | Phantom Black |
| Availability | Invitation-only (2,100 numbered pieces) |
Why This Moment Is Bigger Than a Watch
Rotoris only launched in February 2026, with just 2,100 numbered watches released through invitation-only access. For a brand barely a month old to land on the F1 grid — one of the most watched sporting stages on the planet — is a debut that most established watch houses never get.
The Astonia’s design language was always rooted in motorsport. The tachymetre bezel, chronograph pushers, and Q-MATIC technology — which combines quartz accuracy with the sweeping hand feel of a mechanical chronograph — make it a fitting companion for a racing driver. Seeing it on Maini’s wrist at Albert Park is less a coincidence and more a philosophy coming full circle.
Kush Maini is no stranger to the long game either — a decade of climbing through motorsport tiers, now serving as Test and Reserve Driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team and competing in Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix. His journey mirrors exactly what Rotoris represents — disciplined, incremental, earned progress.
Backed by ₹25 crore+ in seed funding from investors including Nikhil Kamath, Vivek Oberoi, and Tanmay Bhatt, Rotoris is clearly playing for the global Indian luxury stage — and Melbourne just handed them the perfect opening lap.
