By the time TAG Heuer launched its Formula 1 Chronograph in 1986, the watchmaker was already closely associated with auto racing, with its Carrera and Monaco models beloved by enthusiasts across the globe. Soon after in 1988, the Swiss firm partnered with Ayrton Senna, who was slowly achieving his legendary status — that same year, Senna joined McLaren and won his first World Drivers’ Championship.
Throughout their time together, the driver wore TAG Heuer timepieces, such as the Series 2000 Automatic Chronograph. Since the tragic death of Senna in 1994, the brand has continued to pay tribute by putting out pieces in partnership with the Senna Foundation. The latest release features the Formula 1 Chronograph yet again and features the colors of Senna’s home nation of Brazil.
Two Takes on a Racing Icon
TAG Heuer’s latest Senna collection features two watches. The 44mm automatic leans into more contemporary materials with its black DLC titanium case and forged carbon bezel, while the 43mm quartz model brings back the S/EL bracelet Senna actually wore during his ambassadorship in 1993. Both dial in that Brazilian yellow-green-blue palette, but they take different approaches to get there.
Mechanical or Quartz?
The automatic is the showstopper here. At 44mm across and 14.3mm thick, it’s built around TAG’s Calibre 16 — their workhorse ETA 7750-based chronograph movement — with a sub-dial at 6 o’clock that wears the Brazilian flag colors with a 12-hour counter and Senna’s signature “S” logo in yellow at the 9 o’clock running seconds. Yellow lacquered hands and a matching rubber strap complete the look.
The 43mm quartz takes a different route. It sticks with classic stainless steel and pulling from what Senna actually wore — the aforementioned S/EL bracelet with those distinctive interlocking links that defined late-’80s sport watches. The quartz chronograph inside means there’s a 1/10th-second counter at 6 o’clock (rendered in Brazilian flag colors with a red hand), which gives you that old-school racing stopwatch aesthetic. At 12.4mm thick and with printed Arabic numerals, this one’s decidedly more accessible for everyday wear, but is also the more limited of the two models, with 3,000 pieces made globally (the automatic model isn’t limited).
The Senna Legacy
The collaboration between TAG Heuer and the Senna Brand has been running for over 30 years now, with Bianca Senna — Ayrton’s niece and CEO of the Senna Brand — actively shaping each release. Both watches support the Instituto Ayrton Senna, which has provided educational opportunities for millions of Brazilian children since the foundation’s inception.
The automatic’s packaging comes in deep blue with three stripes matching his iconic helmet, while the quartz gets that same treatment with a yellow cushion interior.
Spec Sheet
Model: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph × Senna (44mm Automatic & 43mm Quartz)
Case Material: Grade-2 titanium with black DLC coating (44mm); Stainless steel (43mm)
Case Size: 44mm (automatic), 43mm (quartz)
Lug-to-Lug: 47.3mm (automatic), 48.2mm (quartz)
Case Thickness: 14.3mm (automatic), 12.4mm (quartz)
Movement: Calibre 16 automatic chronograph (44mm); Quartz chronograph (43mm)
Water Resistance: 200m
Crystal: Flat sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
Lume: Super-LumiNova with green emission
Bezel: Forged carbon tachymeter with Senna “S” logo (44mm); Black aluminum tachymeter with “SENNA” engraving (43mm)
Bands: Yellow rubber (44mm); Stainless steel S/EL bracelet (43mm)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date
Limited Edition?: Yes, 3,000 pieces (43mm quartz model only)
Pricing & Availability
Available now, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph × Senna 44mm automatic is priced at $5,850, while the 43mm quartz comes in at $2,700 and limited to just 3,000 pieces.
Recap
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Senna Editions
TAG Heuer’s latest Senna tribute drops two Formula 1 Chronographs — a 44mm automatic in black DLC titanium with forged carbon and a 43mm quartz that brings back the S/EL bracelet Senna actually wore. Both lean into Brazilian yellow-green-blue colors and support the Instituto Ayrton Senna.
