There’s arguably no other watch brand more ingrained in motorsport than TAG Heuer, with its heritage in the sport dating back to the 1960s. From being initially associated with a few different drivers, the brand went on to become a team sponsor, and even lend its name to an engine – firstly with McLaren in the 1980s under the TAG label (which stands for ‘Techniques d’Avant Garde’) and again much more recently with the all-conquering Red Bull team, which badged its (Renault) engine as a TAG Heuer eight years ago.
That partnership with Red Bull since has led to all sorts of special watches and limited editions since 2016, with a jumping hour version of the Monaco launched at Watches and Wonders earlier this year, for example. Often seen on the wrist of Red Bull’s multiple world champion Max Verstappen, this was of course the very latest declination of an iconic watch that dates back to 1970.
But the latest collaboration is very different indeed, with this TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45MM x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition based on TAG Heuer’s well-known smartwatch.
TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45MM x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition
For a start, customers can choose between four bespoke watch faces. ‘Season’ displays flags along the bezel, highlighting the country in which the team is currently competing (with 24 races on the F1 calendar this year, there’s no shortage of variety). It also indicates where the team’s two drivers (Verstappen and Mexico’s Sergio Perez) finished in the race. ‘Asphalt’ showcases textured backgrounds that evoke a race circuit; a theme that is reprised in the grain of the optional leather and fabric strap (the alternative strap choice is obviously black rubber). The two other watch faces are the ‘TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Red Bull Racing Special Edition’, which looks exactly like the special edition (mechanical) chronograph launched back in 2022, and finally the ‘RB20’ watch face; inspired by the name and look of this year’s F1 car.
Being a smartwatch, this is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to multifunctionality. This watch is a Formula 1 fan’s dream, with a countdown to each race and images from every grand prix, as well as updated results. It notifies the wearer of team and driver news, and is essentially the next best thing to having a race computer – as used by the team managers on the pit wall – strapped to your wrist.
And that’s before you even begin to think about all the other myriad different things a modern smartwatch can do, ranging from stopwatch timing to health monitoring…
It certainly looks the part, with the characteristic red, blue, and yellow of the team’s colours, which is carried through to the presentation box. At 45mm, it’s an imposing piece, but the titanium keeps it light and there’s also water resistance to 50 metres.
The watch takes an hour and a half to fully charge, and should then be operational for one full day. As a welcome bonus, it’s one of the cheaper ways to get into a new TAG Heuer at around £1750.
Obviously this latest release won't be for everyone. But for some F1 superfans, this is the watch they have always been waiting for.
