Today we have a guest post from our Swedish friend and general watch pest Jim Dollares!
Follow Jim on INSTAGRAM at 'jimdollares'.
Five years of TAG Heuer and Red Bull partnership
TAG Heuer (and Heuer) has a long history of sponsoring Formula 1, going back all the way to the early 1970’s when Jack Heuer made his famous deal with Ferrari. For a long time TAG Heuer was partnered with McLaren and today we take it for granted to see luxury watch brands associating themselves with Formula 1 and other prestigious sports. Still, that doesn't make it any less special in my eyes. I love the glamour around Formula 1 and seeing TAG Heuer, IWC and other reputable Swiss brands in Formula 1 environments just increases my desire for them. I am a total sucker for marketing, I know, but I couldn't care less.
This year will mark the five year anniversary of the most recent Formula 1 sponsorship for TAG Heuer, which is of course the one with Red Bull Racing. One of the first watches that really brought my attention to the brand was in fact the first watch released to celebrate this partnership, I'm talking obviously about the CAZ1018 Formula 1 model. TAG partnering up with Red Bull makes me very happy since my favourite watchmaker is TAG Heuer and my favourite driver happens to be Max Verstappen. Max has been driving for Red Bull since May 2016 when he made his debut, and won the race, in the Spanish Grand Prix on the 'Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya'. Funny detail is that the first F1 race I ever went to was in fact the Spanish Grand Prix on that same track and I just happened to be wearing my beloved CAZ1018 cheering for Max, what a lovely coincidence!
In the Formula 1 paddock we have seen some different TAG Heuer watches during the years and the drivers have been wearing both Formula 1 models and Carreras. During the 2019 season team principal Christian Horner was seen wearing the Autavia Heuer 02 chronograph (CBE2110) during most race weekends and during the 2020 season he was rocking a black dial calibre 16 Carrera in stainless steel.
THE WATCHES
Robert has already published some great coverage of the timepieces released from TAG Heuer under the Red Bull partnership (please find some links later on in case you missed any of these) but I wanted to give an overview of all Red Bull watches and share with you my personal thoughts on them.
CAZ1018.BA0842 CAZ1018.FC8213
2016 Tag Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Racing (CAZ1018)
The first watch released to celebrate the new partnership between TAG Heuer and Red Bull Racing was this non limited special edition watch. It is no secret that this watch is one of my absolute favourite watches ever. With it’s matt blue dial and contrasting white sub dials combined with red details and a blue aluminium bezel, it gives off a sporty yet sophisticated impression. I think TAG Heuer made the right choice not to put any Red Bull logo on the dial and settled for making a special caseback with Red Bull Racing engraving. I am sure that this watch will age very well and be as sporty and good looking in 30 years as it is now.
CAZ101B.FT8028
2016 Tag Heuer Formula 1 Max Verstappen Special Edition (CAZ101B)
It did not take long for TAG Heuer to release their first Max Verstappen watch, which was an interesting move considering that Max at the time had only been in the sport for a couple of months when this watch was released. Sure, Max did win his first grand prix and looking back it was a brilliant move to produce special releases in Max’s name, since he is and has been one of the hottest names in Formula 1 for the last couple of years.
Special characteristic of this watch is the orange 18 in the tachymeter scale, referring to Max’s age at the time. The orange strap and details on the watch are a tribute to the Netherlands, Max’s home country. This watch was only sold in the Dutch market, limited to 500 pieces and I imagine that there are many members of the “orange army” (common nickname for Max Verstappen’s fans wearing orange at the Formula 1 races) were quick to grab one. I just wish I would have had the sense to buy it myself.
CAZ101G.FT8030
2017 TAG Heuer Formula 1 No.33 Max Verstappen Limited Edition (CAZ101G)
Following the success of the first Max Verstappen release, TAG Heuer introduced this watch in 2017. Same recipe but different colours basically. A bit lazy and one can't help but thinking that this was just an easy and quick cash grab for TAG. Unique details on this watch are the red inner minute scale going to 33 minutes and a discrete black 33 printed next to it, this obviously a tribute to Max’s racing number 33. The 2017 edition was limited to 533 pieces and was only sold in the Netherlands. I can’t help but wonder if those who missed the first release and bought this one will always feel a bit sorry and wishing that they had the orange original instead?
2017 TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer01 Red Bull Limited Edition (CAR2A1K/CAR2A1N)
For those who want something a bit more bold and ‘in your face’, TAG Heuer released this 45 mm skeleton Carrera in 2017. It might be way too big for some of us but the design is great, especially on the unique blue leather strap with red stitching, designed specifically for this watch. The Heuer01 is a great modern movement that suits the spirit of this timepiece splendidly. For those of us following Formula 1, this Carrera has been seen many times worn by Max Verstappen during Formula 1 weekends, which to me, makes it extra special.
CAZ101U.BA0843
2018 TAG Heuer F1 Max Verstappen 33 Edition (CAZ101U)
The third Verstappen watch was limited to 1300 pieces but unlike the previous two it was not limited to the Dutch market. Obvious unique features of this one are the big 33 on the 6 o’clock subdial and the small stripe with the Dutch flag colours on the dial. This is probably my least favourite Verstappen edition. I found an old post I wrote when this watch was released where I said that “this feels like a cheap mix of old TAG Heuer stock designed by a little boy named Max”.
A bit harsh perhaps but I think there is too much going on with this one and it definitely looks as if TAG Heuer took Max to their warehouse and told him that ‘these are the spare parts we have available for your next watch, feel free to mix and match’. Max picked what he wanted and said that he would also like his number 33 on the dial. The chief designer might have been on vacation at the time so the design was approved and went into production. It would be interesting to know how quickly these sold but I guess it was not difficult to find 1300 hardcore Max Verstappen fans happy to cash up for this one just because of it being a Max Verstappen watch.
SBF8A8028.11EB0147
2018 TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 Aston Martin Red Bull SE (SBF8A8028)
OK I have to say it. Smartwatches are definitely not my thing but we can’t cover TAG Heuer and Red Bull without mentioning this special edition of the Connected modular 45. From what I understand this one has a special digital Red Bull racing face that the user can use to showcase time on the display. It also comes on a very nice looking blue leather strap with red stitching, a bit similar to the one seen on the Heuer01 Red Bull Carrera.
Besides this I think this smartwatch is similar to the other Connected Modular 45’s, meaning that you have to charge it every day, be careful not to use it too much to avoid running out of battery, configure the battery, never charge it unnecessarily long (remove charger as soon as it reaches 100% not to destroy the battery) and make sure to change watch faces daily to avoid so called screen burn. I think that pretty much says it all, do yourself a favour and get one of the other Red Bull watches to avoid hassle.
2019 TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Max Verstappen Special Edition (CAZ2018)
Enough about the digital computer watches. This one is a whole lot more interesting since it was TAG Heuer’s first mechanical watch made in collaboration with Max Verstappen. Being limited to only 333 pieces meant it sold out extremely fast. My absolute favourite feature of this watch is the red Max Verstappen engraving on the bezel, which looks superb. It is yet another sporty home run from TAG Heuer but it bothers me a bit that the caseback seems to be missing information about the watch being limited to 333 pieces, it only says “Max Verstappen 4th limited edition”. I know TAG Heuer has cheapened out on individually numbering most of their limited editions but why not even put the total number of limited pieces on it?
2020 TAG Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Special Edition (CAZ101AB)
In 2020 we saw the release of the new Formula 1 replacing the beloved CAZ1018 and the new one is similar but yet very different. This time around the color scheme made more sense and seems to match Red Bull’s branding. Still I can't shake the feeling that the “original” CAZ1018 is the winner purely from a design perspective. The 2020 version has a very similar caseback but with an updated Red Bull Racing logotype, including the Aston Martin name. When I first saw photos of this one I was pretty certain that I would pick it up just because it would be cool to have both Red Bull Racing Formula 1’s but now when some time has passed I think I will skip this one. Getting a second one that is similar but a bit worse will probably not be something I wear very much anyway.
THE BOXES
We can’t cover TAG Heuer and Red Bull without talking about the boxes. Oh my, the boxes. These are incredibly nice and well made and I especially appreciate the steel plate with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team logo engraved.
THE FUTURE
I really hope that the partnership between TAG Heuer and Red Bull will continue for many more years to come. Hopefully we get to see many good Red Bull Racing branded watches in the future and while I am at it wishing for things, please TAG give us another Max Verstappen homerun as awesome as the CAZ101B from 2016!
Jim Dollares
Read more posts about TAG Heuer Red Bull Racing watches:
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