ReviewTAG Heuer Formula 1 Mclaren Special Edition – From the pit stop to your wrist
Motor Racing brought alive by TAG Heuer
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Men have always been fascinated by speed, time and challenges. The phrase ‘boys and their toys’ is often used to describe the relationship between a man and his favorite machines. And, automobiles are invariably the first passion of many men. These men obsessions are appropriately manifested in the strong connection that the world of watchmaking has with motor racing. And leading the race is the renowned watchmaker TAG Heuer, ever since the time when Jack Heuer first made a deal with Enzo Ferrari to be the official timing partner for Ferrari’s F1 cars and its drivers in the 1970s. Many of us have fond memories of the Heuer logo, which was placed on the nose of the Ferrari that Niki Lauda took to two world championships.
The year 2015 marks 30 years of TAG Heuer’s most enduring relationship with one of the world’s most glamorous racing teams – the McLaren F1. It’s hard to forget McLaren’s former legendary driver and triple world champion Ayrton Senna and his famous statement:
“When you are under a lot of pressure, the objective is to be the one that can put together the combination of aggression and calculation that will get the best result(…)”
– Senna
Aggression and calculation as mentioned in the quote above are the two foremost attributes of the watch that we wish to introduce to you.
Aggression
The Formula 1-McLaren’s Special Edition is a sporty and functional timepiece crafted from stainless steel and presented on a “rocket red” and black NATO strap. The red is not just any red – TAG Heuer has named it ‘rocket red’, and it is inspired by McLaren’s 1985 campaign and the colour used by them when they won – it is found on the bezel, the number 30 on the minutes track, as well as on the stripe that runs across the canvas NATO strap. The colour represents the aggression that was an integral part of Senna’s DNA.
Calculation
The timepiece offers a tachymeter function that is used to compute speed based on travel time or to measure distances based on speed. This is inspired by the precision required in motorsport. It houses a Swiss made Ronda 5040D quartz chronograph movement for exemplary timekeeping accuracy. And because of this, the watch is incredibly light, safe and brings new levels of performance.
TAG Heuer’s passion for motor racing has led it to achieve supreme levels of precision and performance in the craft of watchmaking. Both TAG Heuer and Mclaren Honda are acknowledged leaders in the fields of developing new technologies and engineering. While they say that Mclaren Honda is not just a car; it is a work of art, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Mclaren Special Edition is more than a piece of art. It is the ultimate creation in the world of sport watches. The 42mm case of the watch is forged with an anti reflective and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass. The only Arabic numeral on the main dial is the oversized 12 while the others are baton indices – all of which are coated with Super-LumiNova. The McLaren is water resistant up to a pressure of 20 bar (200 meters or 660 feet).
The timepiece is completed with a NATO strap that is in red and black to echo the colors of the bezel and the dial. The highly resilient strap lends the piece a sporty look. It encircles the wrist, ensuring an effortless snug fit for practical use. The buckle and pin are made from 316L stainless steel. Both the ends of the strap and the buckle holes are laser-cut to ensure a high-quality finish.
The case back pays tribute to the incredible TAG Heuer – McLaren partnership, and the most exciting part is that each piece is individually numbered. A 1985 McLaren Formula 1 car is engraved on the back along with the TAG Heuer logo against a chequered background. For all the motor sport fanatics – this is an unprecedented opportunity to own one of the 5000 pieces produced of this Limited Edition version.
The TAG Heuer McLaren Special Edition is one of the most iconic collections introduced by the brand – a fantastically affordable way to buy into a classic brand. And as TAG Heuer says it best – this watch is for the man who makes his own rules, chooses his own path, never quits moving forward, never compromises, never cracks under pressure.
