TAG Heuer celebrates Ayrton Senna’s enduring legacy with a pair of new Senna-inspired Formula 1 Chronographs
Tom Austin- TAG Heuer presents two new special edition Formula 1 Chronographs celebrating the historic relationship between the brand and the late Ayrton Senna in time for the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix.
- Available in 44mm, black DLC-coated titanium or 43mm stainless steel versions, both watches feature slightly different details, such as a Senna-branded carbon fibre bezel or a Senna-branded dial, with matching helmet colours.
- The steel 43mm version is limited to 3,000 pieces and features the iconic S-shaped bracelet, often seen on the wrist of Ayrton himself.
Formula 1 racetracks and paddocks have looked very different this year, due to the exciting and widely welcomed rekindling of a relationship between Formula 1 and TAG Heuer. Because that link stretches back to the 1970s, there’s almost a touch of retro charm in seeing the brand logo back on the billboards, with some even saying it makes F1 feel like F1 again. TAG Heuer’s connection to F1 and motorsport is almost irrevocable, but it extends much further than that, with the brand being inextricably linked with drivers, too. One of whom is, of course, the late, great Ayrton Senna.
Throughout the late 80s and early 90s, Ayrton Senna was a TAG Heuer brand ambassador during his time at McLaren – where he won his three Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship titles – as TAG Heuer was a major team sponsor at the time. The first Senna-branded TAG Heuer watch appeared in 1994 (tragically, the same year of his untimely passing), but as we know, his enduring legacy carried on, influencing the sport and its drivers throughout the subsequent decades. In time for the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, the latest collaboration between TAG Heuer and the legendary Senna brand has been announced, honouring Ayrton Senna’s extraordinary legacy.
The collection comprises two Formula 1 Chronograph models. The first is based on the latest 44mm DLC-coated titanium model, released shortly after the new F1 sponsorship deal was announced, and the second is based on the smaller 43mm stainless steel quartz Formula 1 Chronograph, which we’ve seen receive the Senna treatment before.
The 44mm black DLC-coated titanium version features the all-new case design of the 2025 model. It’s a big watch, especially with its 14.1mm thickness, but its semi-integrated strap design creates slightly more compact proportions, meaning that 44mm diameter doesn’t come across as overly bulky. The black crown features a yellow flash, and the Senna-branded bezel on this model is finished in forged carbon fibre. Up front, there’s a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, while the back features a closed caseback, engraved with that iconic image of Ayrton’s eyes through his helmet.
The stainless steel version is still a chunky watch, but it’s something we’re very used to with the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph. Given its popularity over the years, its size certainly hasn’t put enthusiasts off, that’s for sure, and it’s slightly thinner than the other model, too, at 12.4mm. It’s more traditional in its design, but still features the yellow Senna details, such as the yellow flash on the chronograph pusher, the Senna-branded aluminium bezel, and finally, an engraved caseback.
The dials on these two watches are pretty similar and share some Senna-inspired details, but there are some subtle differences. The dials are finished in a silky sunray black, paired with a vibrant yellow lacquered chronograph hand, and a distinctive yellow, green and blue motif in the 6 o’clock subdials, which, of course, are the colours of the Brazilian flag but, importantly, represent that iconic helmet design Ayrton used throughout his career.
The black model features a slightly more modern and technical design, with its asymmetrical layout and lack of Arabic numeral hour markers. The running seconds counter at 9 o’clock features the famous Senna “S” logo, which is absent on the stainless steel quartz model. Both watches are still eminently wearable and legible chronograph tool watches, and the branding, albeit bold and vibrant yellow, is relatively subtle and doesn’t detract from either watch’s functionality.
The latest titanium Formula 1 Chronograph is powered by the Calibre 16, as in its predecessors. Based on the ETA/Valjoux 7750, it’s a solid workhorse of a chronograph movement that offers a 42-hour power reserve while beating at 4Hz. The 43mm model is arguably the more “historically correct” model, though, as it’s quartz powered, like several of the most iconic TAG Heuer Formula 1s before it (and the ones Senna himself wore). The advantage here is the “set and forget” usability and, naturally, the added long-term precision that comes with a quartz movement.
Each watch has its own distinctive strap or bracelet design, with the more contemporary titanium watch opting for a vibrant yellow rubber strap, finished with a black DLC-coated stainless steel pin buckle. The stainless steel model, however, uses the iconic S-shaped integrated stainless steel bracelet, reminiscent of the watches that Ayrton used to wear. And even though he preferred a leather strap, you’d always see the straps connected to the watch by an S-shaped mid link, the same as the bracelet on this model. The bracelet’s finished with a stainless steel folding clasp, which features an extension link, too. Yes, the bracelet is a love-it-or-hate-it design, but the connection to Senna is undeniable, and I’m glad to see it featured here.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Senna 2025 Collection pricing & availability
These two TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Senna models will be making their public debut at the 2025 Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix, and will subsequently be available at TAG Heuer boutiques worldwide, with the stainless steel model limited to 3,000 pieces. Price: CHF 2,550 (43mm quartz), CHF 5,550 (44mm mechanical)
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Formula 1 Chronograph x Senna Collection |
| Reference | CAZ101AX.BA0637 (43mm quartz) CBZ2081.FT8092 (44mm mechanical) |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 12.4mm (T) x 48.2mm (LTL) 44mm (D) x 14.3mm (T) x 47.3mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel Black DLC-coated titanium |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Black sunray with yellow Senna chronograph details |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel S-link bracelet with folding clasp (43mm quartz) Yellow rubber strap wiht pin buckle (44mm mechanical) |
| Movement | Quartz Calibre 16, ETA base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 2-3 years battery life (43mm quartz) 42 hours (44mm mechanical) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Stainless steel model limited to 3,000 pieces |
| Price | CHF 2,550 (43mm quartz) CHF 5,550 (44mm mechanical) |