TAG Heuer Gave Its Formula 1 Chronograph a Complete Refresh
The watch industry is full of partnerships and sponsorships. Few, however, are more significant or impactful than those connected to motorsports, and Formula 1 in particular. Whether you follow the sport or not, it was big news last year for watch fans that Rolex was ending its very visible, decade-plus-long role as F1's Official Timekeeper and that TAG Heuer would once again take up the title in 2025.
So hullabaloo and new watches in TAG's Formula 1 collection were naturally expected, and the brand is kicking the year off with LVMH Watch Week announcements (more here) including a new generation of Formula 1 automatic chronographs. They feature a new look for the collection and 44mm titanium cases with some sporty styles in five variants.
Beyond the sponsorship, there are other factors that potentially give the new Formula 1 watches a buzz factor. Firstly, the collection itself has enjoyed a new level of respect and attention among enthusiasts following the much hyped 2024 collaboration with apparel label Kith. Secondly, the 2025 watches also feature a fresh case design that incorporates a popular feature. While at launch they come on rubber straps rather than metal bracelets, the lug design appears (to me, anyway) to require a strap designed especially for it, and this is what nominally defines the much celebrated "integrated bracelet" sport watch category.
One element that's at odds with recent trends (reflected in the popularity of the Kith collab with its 35mm diameter), however, is the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chrongoraphs' size. Though the industry has been moving away from 44mm watches and the like toward smaller diameters, there are still people who like/want boldly sized watches, or just have the wrist girth for them to feel proportional.
A diameter of 44mm and thickness of 14.1mm sounds big to a lot of enthusiasts today, but TAG is mitigating the chunkiness in a few ways. First is that those lugs are stubby, with a reasonable lug-to-lug measurement of only 47.3mm. Titanium will also lighten the load and aid wearability, of course, and the black DLC finish will help minimize its visual presence for the models that feature it. In other words, you might want to try one of these bad boys on before assuming that it's too big for you.
The size and price (CHF 4,800-5,300), though, are roughly consistent with existing Formula 1 automatic chronographs. So is the movement, the Caliber 16, which is based on the ETA 7750 or Sellita SW500, and it retains the configuration most associated (in my mind, at least) with those movements: the asymmetrical 6-9-12 layout of the subdials.
At launch, the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronographs come in five variants with bright red, green and blue highlights, respectively, three of which feature the black DLC cases with brushed finishes. The version with red highlights comes in a black DLC as well as a natural titanium version with a bead-blasted finish. In addition to the dial highlights, those colors are also echoed for each version on a colored ring visible between the case and bezel, as well as on the crown and straps.
The fifth version is a little different. It's made for the brand's relationship with the Oracle Red Bull Racing team and it has the natural, bead-blasted titanium case, a blue checker-patterned dial and a broader mix of colors and details. Availability will be March for the red and blue models, June for the green, and each has a price of CHF 4,800. The Oracle Red Bull Racing model will be available in April for a price of CHF 5,300.
To learn more, visit TAG Heuer, here.
