Few F1 drivers can be mentioned in the same breath as the passionate Ayrton Senna, who left his indelible mark on Formula 1. Nicknamed “Magic Sennaâ€, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest drivers the world has ever seen. To his name were three world championship titles (1988, 1990 and 1991), 65 pole positions, and 41 Grand Prix victories. The latter includes the Monaco Grand Prix, which he won for the first time in 1987.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of this particular victory, Tag Heuer released three new limited edition watches in tribute to the late legend. These were unveiled at an exclusive preview during the inauguration of the new boutique in Monaco, attended by Bianca Senna, the champion’s niece.
With a 45 mm case, the Carrera Heuer-01 chronograph in black brushed steel with touches of red houses the skeleton dial and sapphire case back, allowing the precision engineering of the Manufacture movement to be admired.
The other pieces in the series are two Formula 1 models, one of which is the chronograph version, TAG Heuer’s archetypal “motor racing†model. Both watches are 43 mm in diameter and black, highlighted with touches of red, a combination which is a clear nod to the spirit of high speed racing. The dial features three red lines, hinting at the tracks left by a speeding race car.
The chronograph version features a quartz movement accurate to a tenth of a second – an indispensable feature in a motor racing watch – powering the small counter at 6 o’clock, with the minute counter at 9 o’clock and the running seconds counter at 3 o’clock.
The three watches all display the famous stylised “S†in red lacquer, the Senna symbol, on the dial and bezel. The bezel also has a minute track, lending the pieces a racing feel. All models are available with the iconic bracelet with S-shaped links, mirroring Senna’s choice at the height of his career.
