Leica’s Q3 43 Gets the Formula 1 Treatment

Leica has brought Formula 1 into its camera line-up with the Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition, a special release marking a new licensing partnership between the German camera manufacturer and motorsport’s most recognisable racing series.

The design makes its intentions clear. Genuine carbon fibre features across the wireless charging handgrip, thumb rest and soft-release button, the latter finished with a red rim. A black Microvelour covering takes its texture cues from racing steering wheels, while F1 branding appears on the top plate and lens cap. A co-branded rope strap completes the package.

The carbon fibre components are manufactured and tested exclusively in Germany, introducing a material not traditionally associated with Leica cameras. Here, it serves a practical purpose as well as a visual one, bringing the lightweight, rigid material into the points where the camera is held and operated.

Underneath the motorsport-inspired detailing sits the Leica Q3 43. Its APO-Summicron 43mm f/2 ASPH. lens offers a fixed focal length, while the full-frame BSI CMOS sensor uses Triple Resolution Technology to shoot at 60, 36 or 18 megapixels. Hybrid autofocus and extensive video functions round out the specification.

There is also a dedicated ‘Formula 1’ image look, available exclusively on this edition through the Leica FOTOS app. Higher contrast and richer saturation are designed to reflect the visual intensity of the racetrack and paddock, with the effect visible in the viewfinder as photographs are taken rather than added later in post-production.

The camera was unveiled at an event at Leica Store and Leica Gallery Los Angeles, hosted by Formula 1 presenter Ariana Bravo and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button.

The Leica Q3 43 Formula 1 Edition went on sale on 21 October 2026 through Leica stores, the Leica online store and specialist retailers. Priced at £7,300, it is compatible with existing Leica Q3 and Q3 43 photography accessories.