True F1 legends are few and far between. While that statement may seem a little odd at first glance, if you think about it, it's not that wide of the mark. Some supposed 'legends' don't last much beyond their tenure in the sport, and most start to fade as the population ages and starts to forget. Or some, like Sebastian Vettel, unfortunately end up in a situation where their early domination peters out until people start to wonder just how exactly he managed to win four WDCs in a row and was it in fact just the fact that they were driving the best car?
Then there's drivers like Fernando Alonso, who despite not winning as many titles as he really deserved, still command huge respect and a huge salary too, because he always gives it everything.
And then there's Ayrton Senna. A driver who (the older) current F1 drivers grew up watching and often still revere as 'the best', if nothing else for but his relentless competitiveness and desire to dominate everyone that stood between him and the titles he believed were his and his alone.
One thing's for sure, Ayrton would absolutely hate modern F1, as someone who wanted to attack every lap like it was for pole, he would have been disgusted at the idea of only having three engines to last a season and having to back off so as not to put too much stress on the mechanicals.
When you think about it like that it's easy to understand why we will never see another 'Senna'. Modern F1 just isn't built like that. In fact, if anything, Senna's arch nemesis Alain Prost would likely be the poster boy for the current era, a man who somehow managed to compete with Senna driving (in his own words) only as fast as absolutely necessary to win the race.
Of course, the legend of Senna was cemented forever when he sadly died racing in the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola circuit on the 1st of April 1994. I remember it well. I watched F1 between 1980/1982 and then found other interests to occupy me, before coming back to the sport at the start of the troubled 1994 season (though I did subsequently buy all the Season Reviews on VHS and watched them over and over until I felt like I hadn't missed a thing).
Though Senna's death is obviously the most well remembered incident of 1994, another driver (Roland Ratzenberger) died the same weekend and another (Karl Wendlinger) ended up in a coma the following week in Monaco. And even that wasn't the end of it, also during the San Marino Grand Prix someone in the crowd was injured when debris from a car hit them, a Ferrari pit worker broke his leg when a stray wheel hit him in the pitlane and Rubens Barichello had a horrendous crash in qualifying when his Jordan took off on a kerb, leaping above the tyre wall and hitting the fencing very hard indeed.
Ayrton moved to the previously dominant Williams F1 team for 1994, but this was the first year where Williams' active ride system was banned and the team was struggling to get up to speed. While Senna failed to score a point in his three races for Williams, ultimately his inexperienced teammate Damon Hill only narrowly failed to beat Michael Schumacher to the 1994 title once Williams had got a handle on the car (ultimately being taken out with what amounted to a professional foul at the final race in Adelaide). Logically, given his experience and talent, it's not completely 'out there' to think that Senna would probably have beaten the pair of them to the title had he survived.
That could have brought his WDC tally to four, and while 1995 might still have ended up going Schumacher's way, a Senna/Hill battle in 1996 and 1997 would most likely have seen Senna eclipse Fangio with six titles. Maybe that would have been the moment to stop, or maybe he would have returned to McLaren for 1998 and 1999 as he always planned? Of course we shall never know...
Universal Geneve 998.310 (40mm) 1999
With Senna's irrefutable connection to TAG Heuer throughout his time with McLaren (and even during his final season with Williams) you'd be forgiven for thinking that only TAG Heuer had ever made 'Senna' branded watches, but you would be wrong. There was a period during the late 1990s when the Senna Foundation teamed up with Universal Geneve to produce a 'Senna' branded chronograph. I don't want to get into that here, but here's a link for you...
To me these watches are not that nice in all honesty, and they look incredibly dated next to what TAG Heuer were producing around the same time. In fact, to me they look a little bit like the fake TAG Heuers you used to find on eBay about fifteen years ago!
And while we are on the subject, it seems that LVMH also manufactured some more expensive 'Senna' watches through TAG Heuer's sister brand 'Hublot', such as this one called the '90 Champion Senna Tourbillon' (limited to 41 pieces) which was released in 2010.
90 Champion Senna Tourbillon (2010)
Which brings me to my next little diversion. During my research period for writing this post I decided that I would enlist the help of the C.O.C.O. Council in determining the 'best' Senna watch. To this end I assembled a list of 22 TAG Heuers with Senna branding and sent them out with the caveat that if anyone knew of any more watches that I had missed, please let me know and we would adjust the vote as necessary.
This threw a spanner in the works as one of the C.O.C.O. members actually came back to me with a watch he believed had been missed off the list. At first I thought he was right, but then I started to investigate this watch and I realised that aside from one article on the Ayrton Senna website (written prior to release) there was practically nothing on the internet about it. Not one for sale on Chrono 24, not one article or review, nothing.
So I came to the conclusion that for 2018 TAG Heuer had proposed three new 'Senna' watches, but in the end they had decided to drop the CBG2014. Perhaps it was a good thing, because while I like the red and black rubber strap on my WAZ1014 I have to say I don't think it looks anything like as good on this Heuer 02 Carrera!
CBG2014.FTXXXX
Of course, somewhat predictably, I did have a couple of people say that the only true Senna watch is the cream dial anni/digi S/EL with the two tone case and brown leather strap. But... a) that's not a 'Senna branded' watch, it's just a standard period watch that Ayrton decided to wear, and b) there's actually nothing really all that 'special' about it save the fact that he wore it. I guarantee that if Senna had not worn that watch no-one would care less about a cream dial, two tone, anni-digi S/EL on a brown leather strap with a weird two tone end link.
Be honest...
I mean, I quite like it, but I own a two tone white dial S/EL chronograph anyway: I say show me someone who loves that watch but doesn't care two hoots about Ayrton Senna...
And just as Steve McQueen never wore a CAW211P, or Fangio never wore a quartz Formula 1, let's set aside these pointless debates of authenticity. At this point in time a 'Senna' watch is whatever the 'Senna Foundation' and their chosen manufacture decide to produce.
And that said , let's take a look at the watches...
WH1114.BC6030 WH1114.BA0675
1994
The story begins with Ayrton himself and the 6000 Series Senna Limited Edition, which he was in the process of working on with TAG Heuer before his untimely death. The first 'Senna' branded watch was released in three sizes and came on either a bracelet or a flute edged black leather strap.
CT2114.BA0550 (1991 Pieces)
2001
The next TAG Heuer 'Senna' watches didn't arrive until fully eight years later, by which time the S/EL had been retired and the 6000 Series was on its last legs. So TAG Heuer took the obvious route and seeing that the S/EL had been rebranded as the Link (which shared a similar bracelet design) they decided to use that as the base for the next 'Senna' model.
CT2115.BA0550 (4098 Pieces)
2002
2002 saw the next Senna model and it was really just a variation on the previous 2001 piece. Using the Calibre 16 Link as its base, the new watch was essentially the same but with a more colourful dial and was also available as a 27mm quartz powered ladies model (WT141N - 1500pcs). In case you are wondering why it was 4098 pieces, it was something to do with the number of minutes Ayrton Senna raced for McLaren or something equally preposterous. I mean really... why does it have to mean something? This is what drives me nuts about the Swiss watch industry, the levels of unnecessary nonsense they indulge themselves in!
CT5114.BA0551 (4000 Pieces)
20032003 brought a fairly similar watch, but with a slight variation to the dial. Also being that the number started with a 5 instead of a 2 this one was clearly chronometer certified, though unusually it does not say so on the dial.
CJF2113.BA0576 (2004pcs)
2004
We now come to what is, to my mind at least, one of the nicest Senna watches TAG Heuer have produced. Using a blue dial accented with yellow and green, TAG Heuer manage to use the Brazilian's helmet colours in a very classy way. This generation of the Link chronograph certainly looks more luxurious than the previous one, so I think they did a good job of following suit with the branding. Incredibly, given the current strength of the Senna/TAG Heuer brand (indeed it's quite hard to believe that other brands made Ayrton Senna watches at all!) this was the last 'Senna' watch for over ten years. But of course Jean Claude Biver was in charge by then and so when it came back, it came back with a BANG! Oh, and 2004 pieces, because.... it's 2004, presumably?
CBB2080.FT6042 CBB2010.BA0906
CAZ1012.BA0883 CAZ1013.BA0883
2015
2015 brought not one, not two, but four new Senna branded pieces; two quartz Formula 1 chronographs and two Calibre 16 Carreras (though unusually using the discontinued Grand Carrera chronograph case). These were 'Special' rather than 'Limited' editions and so the production numbers are not available. This marks the first time TAG Heuer split their offerings into different price brackets, wisely figuring there were plenty of Senna fans out there who would like a Senna watch but would not necessarily be prepared to stump up thousands of pounds to own an automatic Carrera... and this was also the first time the Formula 1 and Carrera product ranges got to wear a Link style bracelet (JCB felt the Link was a bracelet rather than a watch and planned to use it more throughout the range).
WAZ1012.BA0883 CAZ1015.BA0883
2016
It's reasonable to assume the quartz pieces sold quicker than the automatics and so in 2016 we got two more; this time a chronograph and a three hander, making the Senna watch even more affordable and attractive to non-watch enthusiasts. I really like the chronograph and for a long time was seriously considering buying one... however I eventually ended up with the WAZ1014 instead.
CAR2A1L.BA0688 CAZ1019.FT8027 WAZ1014.FT8027
2017
It was an all-black line-up for 2017 and also the first time we saw a Senna branded Heuer 01 Carrera. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the first time we saw a black coated Link bracelet too. I remember trying this on somewhere, possibly the TAG Heuer boutique in Sheffield and liking it a lot, but worrying if the coating on the bracelet would survive. On the other side we had two new quartz pieces, including the one I eventually went for, the three handed WAZ1014 (I never liked the way the stripes on the chronograph were interrupted by the subdials). To be honest, the main selling points for me were the cool rubber strap and the aluminium bezel insert against the black case and bezel, if anything the dial itself is the weakest element and I will never understand the logic of the 'phantom' lumed 12 and 6 numerals.
CAR5A91.FT6162 (175pcs) CBG2013.BA0657
2018
No new quartz pieces for 2018, but another pair of firsts: a Heuer 02T tourbillon and a regular Heuer 02 chronograph (which surely can't possibly be as hideous as this picture suggests?). Both had display casebacks bearing the red Senna 'S' and the tourbillon version was a limited run of 175 pieces.
CAR5A99.FT6174 CAZ2017.BA0647
2019
2019 marked the 25th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's death and TAG Heuer brought us two 'Tribute Editions' to mark it (neither were limited or numbered). Firstly another tourbillon, very similar to the previous year's, but this time with yellow accents instead of red and with a special 'Senna' print on the display back. And secondly the first Calibre 16 Formula 1 'Senna'. Personally I've never really got past the slightly odd subdials, but viewed as a whole it looks quite nice.
CAZ101AF.BA0637 CAZ201B.FC6487
2020
After a couple of years away, TAG Heuer reprised the quartz Formula 1 chronograph with the CAZ101AF, one of the nicer looking models of recent years. They complemented this with a more upmarket Calibre 16 Formula 1 using a similar aesthetic but coming on a leather strap somewhat reminiscent of the original 1980s S/EL straps that featured an embossed representation of the bracelet design.
CAZ101AJ.FC6487
2021
While on the surface a reheat of 2020s offerings, in the flesh the 2021 CAZ101AJ was actually rather nice, and again featured the use of the sculpted leather strap as found on the previous year's Calibre 16. I liked this very much on the wrist, but found it curious that they gave it a black chrono second hand, hardly the most legible choice. Overall, a good looking watch, but is the Senna line getting a bit stale and predictable?
CAZ201D.BA0663
2022
The most recent of the Senna branded TAG Heuers and again to be honest it feels a bit 'ho-hum', a bit 'seen it all before', indeed, one Council member was heard to comment 'Is this actually a new watch?' when I sent out requests for 'First Impressions' scores. Despite that, looked at in isolation, this piece is actually quite nice, but for sure it's not exactly original. While you can't point to another Senna watch that looks exactly the same somehow it still reeks of deja vu...
And so finally we come to the vote, and I better get it up onto the blog quick before TAG Heuer decide it's time to bring out the 2023 model or models!
THE VOTE
So as I mentioned earlier I sent our COCO Council members pictures of all twenty two watches and asked them to pick their top six in order. Then, in honour of Ayrton Senna's era of F1, I decided we should apportion points in the old F1 style, so 9pts for 1st, 6pts for 2nd, 4pts for 3rd, 3pts for 4th, 2pts for 5th and 1pt for 6th. This is vaguely similar to how we scored the 50th Anniversary Monacos a while back and avoids direct comparison with the ongoing COCO/WOTY scores.
This resulted in a not entirely unexpected and frankly crushing victory for the Senna designed WH1114, which garnered more than twice as many points as the second placed piece. Still, as the owner of a WAZ1014 myself I think I can be satisfied with it taking probably the highest position I could realistically have hoped for (which of course further reinforces my unshakeable belief that I have 'almost' perfect taste). 🤣
CLICK ON THE TABLE TO ENLARGE IT!
As you can see the votes were very well spread out (top four aside), perhaps due to voters trying not to pick six watches that looked too similar? But still all but one managed to score some points. Not sure I would agree that the WAZ1012 is the runt of the litter but there we are.
So there you have it and let's join hands and rejoice in the fact that the COCO Council voted for a quartz 6000 Series as the best Senna watch to date. Magnificent.
FURTHER READING...
'OWNED' POST FOR THE WAZ1017 SENNA FORMULA 1:
'FIRST IMPRESSIONS' POST FOR THE CAZ101AJ (2021):
'FIRST IMPRESSIONS' POST FOR THE CAZ201D (2022):
'FIRST IMPRESSIONS' POST FOR THE 2020 SENNA COLLECTION (2020):
FIRST IMPRESSIONS' POST FOR THE CAR5A99 (2019):
'FIRST IMPRESSIONS' POST FOR THE CAR5A91 (2018):
'ON THE WRIST' POST FOR THE CAZ2017 (2019):
'ON THE WRIST' POST FOR THE CAZ1015 (2019):
'ON THE WRIST' POST FOR THE CAR2A1L (2017):
'ON THE WRIST' POST FOR THE CBB2080 (2016):
FEATURE: WHAT ABOUT A PROPER AYRTON SENNA WATCH (2020):
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