TAG Heuer’s latest Formula 1 Chronograph celebrates Red Bull’s 20 years of F1 dominance
Jamie Weiss- TAG Heuer celebrates Red Bull Racing’s 20th season in Formula 1 with a stealthy limited edition.
- This 43mm quartz chronograph is decked out in Red Bull livery colours: dark blue, yellow and red.
- The black DLC case evokes the large patches of exposed carbon fibre on current Red Bull F1 cars.
Who would’ve thought that an energy drinks company would go on to be one of the most successful Formula 1 teams of all time? Compared to other storied outfits in the history of the world’s premier motorsport – think names like Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes or Williams – Red Bull Racing’s rise has been nothing short of unexpected and meteoric. The Austrian-owned, UK-based team has chalked up 122 race wins, 282 podiums, six Constructor’s Championships and eight Driver’s Championships in its relatively short 20 years of operation in F1. It has also birthed two of the sport’s greatest drivers: four-time, four-in-a-row champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, the latter of which just secured his fourth title.
TAG Heuer, of course, is a watchmaker synonymous with motorsport, especially Formula 1. The 164-year-old brand has been a constant presence in the sport for over 50 years and has been a partner of Red Bull Racing since 2016, which coincidentally was the year that Max Verstappen started racing for the team – meaning that for a whole generation of F1 fans, TAG Heuer is virtually synonymous with Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance. So, to cap off a triumphant 20th anniversary year for Red Bull, which has seen Verstappen match Vettel’s winning streak and cement himself undoubtedly as one of the sport’s all-time greats, it only makes sense that TAG Heuer has come out with a special take on the Formula 1 (the modern one, not the retro one which was revived this year with KITH).
To use its full name, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Oracle Red Bull Racing iterates on previous Red Bull editions of the Formula 1 with a few key differentiating touches. Like previous editions, it’s decked out in Red Bull’s now-iconic livery colours: a dark blue dial, aluminium bezel insert and rubber strap; a yellow chronograph central seconds hand and minute markings on the chapter ring; and touches of red including a TAG Heuer shield at 12 o’clock on the bezel, on the 6 o’clock subdial and around the 2 o’clock pusher. Another nice that makes its return is white L-shaped graphics above 5 and 7 o’clock that depict the starting box on a race grid.
Unlike previous editions, it also includes the Red Bull logo striped across the dial from 7 to 10 o’clock, making the collaboration explicit but not tacky. The big change it brings to the table is a black DLC case. While it’s not actually made from carbon fibre, I find this use of black particularly fitting as it evokes current-generation Red Bull F1 cars, such as this year’s RB20 and last year’s RB19 (one of the most dominant cars in the history of the sport) with their expanses of exposed carbon fibre. Its caseback makes its celebratory status explicit, engraved with Red Bull’s team and unique 20th season logos, as well as a chequered flag motif and the TAG Heuer logo. Additionally, the watch comes packaged in a navy blue box and pouch with red accents.
At 43mm in diameter and 12.4mm thick, it’s certainly on the larger side – but as a quartz movement is found within, it’s not particularly hefty on the wrist. The movement in question, a 1/10th of a second, 30-minute chronograph movement with a date window at 4 o’clock, is sourced from Ronda and has a 4-and-a-half-year battery life.
“To mark 20 years of passion, precision, and pushing the limits, this timepiece made with TAG Heuer perfectly embodies the spirit of Oracle Red Bull Racing. It represents the incredible journey we’ve worked so hard on, capturing every element of what makes our Team relentless on and off the track,” Christian Horner, CEO & Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, says.
F1 has never been more popular than it is in 2024, and I’ve never seen more people wearing F1 merch out and about – but the same cannot be said about team-branded watches. That’s because the vast majority of those watches are well out of the budgets of most F1 fans (except for the VCARB Tudor Black Bay Ceramic, but good luck getting one of those at retail…) However, at just under US$3,000, this Red Bull TAG Heuer represents one of the most affordable ways to rep an F1 team horologically.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Oracle Red Bull Racing pricing and availability
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Oracle Red Bull Racing will be available from December 2024 and is a limited edition of 3,000 pieces. Price: CHF 2,600 (~US$3,000)
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Formula 1 Chronograph x Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| Reference Number | CAZ101AZ.FT8090 |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 12.4mm (T) |
| Case Material | Black DLC stainless steel, aluminium bezel insert |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Blue grained dial with Red Bull logo |
| Lug Width | 21.5mm |
| Strap | Textured blue rubber strap, black DLC steel folding clasp with double safety push-button |
| Movement | Ronda 5040D, quartz chronograph |
| Battery Life | 4.5 years |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited edition of 3,000 pieces |
| Price | CHF 2,600 |