TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Senna — Racing Legend Meets Modern Horology

When TAG Heuer announced two new Ayrton Senna special editions at the São Paulo Grand Prix, it marked yet another chapter in what is arguably the watch industry's longest-running ambassador partnership. But here's the thing: thirty years after Senna's tragic death at Imola, these collaborations still feel genuine. Perhaps it's because Bianca Senna, Ayrton's niece and CEO of the Senna Brand, actively shapes each release. Or perhaps it's simply that TAG Heuer understood something fundamental about the Brazilian driver — his obsession with precision mirrored their own.

The 2025 collection splits into two distinct expressions. The 44mm automatic (ref. CBZ2081.FT8092) is the technical flagship, while the 43mm quartz (ref. CAZ101AX.BA0637) plays the nostalgic card with its reinterpreted S/EL bracelet. Both lean heavily into Senna's yellow helmet iconography and Brazilian flag colors, but they couldn't be more different in execution.

The 44mm: Modern Performance
Let's start with the heavyweight. The CBZ2081 houses TAG Heuer's Calibre 16 automatic chronograph movement — a workhorse based on the ETA/Valjoux 7750, sure, but reliable and serviceable. The 44mm case is grade-2 titanium with black DLC coating, keeping weight down while maintaining that aggressive, tool-watch aesthetic. A forged carbon bezel adds contemporary flair, engraved with Senna's "S" logo at twelve o'clock.

The dial is where things get interesting. A sunray-brushed black base provides the canvas for a tricolor 12-hour totalizer at six o'clock — blue, green, and yellow in homage to Brazil. The 30-minute counter at twelve gets a yellow hand, as does the central chronograph seconds. At nine o'clock, a running seconds subdial features Senna's yellow "S" logo. New indexes inspired by F1 livery geometry and skeletonized hands enhance legibility, though at 44mm with a 47.3mm lug-to-lug, this isn't a subtle piece.
Turn it over, and you'll find an engraving of Senna's eyes peering through his helmet visor — perhaps the most poignant detail on either watch. It's mounted on a yellow rubber strap with a DLC-coated steel buckle. Water resistance is rated to 200 meters, making this more capable than most racing chronographs need to be.

Price: 5,550 CHF (approximately $6,300 USD) or INR 608307 approximately

The 43mm: Nostalgic Homage
The quartz-powered CAZ101AX takes a different approach entirely. This is TAG Heuer looking backward to the S/EL chronograph Senna actually wore — the model with that distinctive serpentine bracelet from the late '80s and early '90s. The reinterpretation isn't an exact recreation, but the spirit is there in those fluid, interlocking steel links. At 43mm in brushed and polished stainless steel, it's more wearable than its bigger sibling. The dial layout differs too: running seconds at three o'clock, a 1/10th second chronograph counter in Brazilian flag colors at six (with a red hand), and a 30-minute totalizer with yellow hand at nine. An aluminum bezel with black tachymeter scale bears the "SENNA" inscription and yellow "S" logo. The caseback gets a special engraving of the driver himself. Being quartz-powered, it's thinner at 12.4mm versus the automatic's 14.3mm. The S/EL bracelet features a folding clasp with double safety system and pilot extension — a nice touch for comfort adjustment. Limited to 3,000 pieces, this feels like the more accessible entry point, both physically and financially.

Price: 2,550 CHF (approximately $2,900 USD) or INR 279492 approximately

The Senna Connection
TAG Heuer's relationship with Ayrton Senna began in 1988 and formalized when he became an official ambassador in 1993. The first Senna special edition dropped in 1994, the year of his death. Since then, the partnership has continued through the Instituto Ayrton Senna, supporting education initiatives for Brazilian youth. A portion of proceeds from these special editions contributes to that work, adding substance beyond the marketing narrative. This year's releases tie into TAG Heuer's "Designed to Win" campaign, borrowing from Senna's famous quote: "I'm not designed to come second or third. I'm designed to win." It's fitting branding for a driver who epitomized relentless pursuit of perfection — sometimes to dangerous extremes.

Final Thoughts
These aren't subtle watches. Both lean hard into yellow accents, Brazilian flag colors, and Senna branding. Whether that appeals depends entirely on your relationship with the legend and motorsport nostalgia. The 44mm automatic offers modern technical execution with high-end materials, while the 43mm quartz delivers accessible vintage charm with that S/EL bracelet callback.
Are they the most refined chronographs at their respective price points? Probably not. But judging these watches purely on horological merit misses the point. They're emotional purchases — tributes to a driver who transcended his sport. For Senna devotees and TAG Heuer collectors, these are compelling propositions. For everyone else, they're reminders that sometimes watches are about more than just telling time.

Availability: November 2025