Introduction
New releases from a brand associated with Grand Prix racing are always eagerly anticipated; if that brand officially returns to Formula One, the anticipation takes on a special meaning and excitement. Mr. Heuer watches have accompanied the history of single-seater racing in Formula One’s most romantic era, and they will do so again in the most digital and technological era ever, accompanying us through the regulatory changes scheduled for 2026.
The new releases revolve around the Carrera, both in the standard version and in collaboration with Porsche, but the new Tag Heuer Replica Formula 1 Chronograph stands out as the most significant innovation to celebrate, “omen nomen,” the brand’s return as the championship’s official timekeeper, after debuting on the wrist of the most successful partner of the last four years, Oracle Red Bull Racing.
The new TAG Heuer Formula One Chronographs
They aren’t the most complicated and luxurious watches presented at Watch Week, but they are new and mark a departure from the classic canons of the outgoing collection in terms of style, materials, and positioning. If you’re looking for a sporty titanium chronograph, the Swiss brand is debuting an original silhouette and a case that translates the tonneau-shaped case concept of 1970s sports chronographs into a contemporary key. Yet it’s ultra-modern (and incredibly light), and the chronograph buttons are cleverly integrated into the case middle.
Semi-hidden, they lend the profile a clean, formal look, from a sports-only timepiece to a three-register chronograph with a rotated V-shaped layout, reminiscent of titanium sports chronographs from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The reference is, for example, to models from the legendary IWC x Porsche Design collection. While always subjective, the style is, in my opinion, objectively balanced; it’s sporty without being overly overbearing and lends itself to various color and material combinations. Inside the 44 mm diameter and 14.5 mm thick case beats the Caliber 16, a TAG Heuer customization of a 7750 movement and a regular presence in the brand’s catalog for years.
It’s not as refined as a Heuer 02, but it’s a robust and proven movement that helps maintain the more aggressive positioning of the in-house caliber models. The size, however, shouldn’t be intimidating: the shape, materials, and rubber strap make it extremely comfortable. The new Formula 1 Chronograph is a sporty watch with a flat case back and a rubber strap that tapers, slimming the case from the attachment point to the small pin buckle for a better fit on the wrist.
The Oracle Red Bull Racing version
I believe it was designed for use in the Formula One paddock, and I’m sure we’ll see it regularly on the wrists of Red Bull team members, to whom TAG Heuer has dedicated the most beautiful and personal version. The colors and Red Bull logo complement perfectly with the blue on the strap and dial with a “checkered flag” motif. It’s the only model in the catalog to feature a carbon insert (with a tachometric scale) on the bezel, like the Carrera Extreme Tourbillon Senna. The new Formula 1 Chronograph lends itself to customization and I believe the brand has new limited editions in the works.