A landmark agreement back in December 2015 saw TAG Heuer become the Official Timekeeper & Official Watch of the Formula 1 Red Bull Racing team. The two brands announced the new name of the 2016 car, “Red Bull Racing – TAG Heuer RB12”, with TAG Heuer being included in the team’s official name. It is the first time a watchmaker has ever been named directly in the official title of an F1 team.
Red Bull Racing has amassed four Double World Champion titles, having won the FIA Constructors’ and Drivers’ titles each year in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. However, it was Red Bull Racing’s unorthodox approach to the sport and to entertainment which appealed to TAG Heuer, one which is perfectly in line with the Swiss watch brand’s new marketing strategy.
Of course, the steel chronograph bears the team’s colors, midnight blue and red, an alliance which naturally alludes to the racing mindset. Adorned with a bezel sporting a tachymeter scale in matte blue aluminum, this piece reflects the DNA of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection perfectly. The quartz chronograph movement is accurate to a tenth of a second–an indispensable feature in a motor racing watch–and is displayed on the small counter at 6 o’clock, with the minute counter at 9 o’clock and the current seconds counter at 3 o’clock. The hands are red, matching the team colors and complement the white counters and deep blue case back perfectly. The back of the case is of course engraved with the legendary black and white chequered flag, symbol of Formula 1, as well as the exclusive Red Bull Racing Team logo.
| Technical Details | |
| References | CAZ1018.BA0842 – Blue dial, aluminum bezel and steel bracelet |
| Case | 43mm in diameter, made from polished and brushed steel
Sapphire crystal – Polished steel screw-down “Easy Grip” crown with TAG Heuer logo Brushed steel crown protection – Push-buttons in polished steel Screw-down case back in brushed steel with the text “Red Bull Racing” – Water-resistant to 200m |
| Movement | Ronda 5040D – Quartz chronograph with date window at 4 o’clock |
| Dial | Blue with 3 white counters: a 1/10 second counter and chronograph hour counter at 6 o’clock, a chronograph minute counter at 9 o’clock and a current seconds counter at 3 o’clock
Hand-applied faceted and polished indices with luminescent markers Black gold polished counter hands with red tips – Red central seconds hand Printed TAG Heuer logo and text “TAG Heuer – FORMULA 1” – Blue and red printed minute track |
| Strap | Triple-row brushed steel bracelet with brushed steel clasp, dual safety mechanism and extension for the motor races |
