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This is a Hands-On Review with a difference. Why? Because this time, we are giving this very watch away with our friends at Fuel Asset Finance and Wallace Bishop Jewellers!

Formula One over the past few years has seen a massive resurgence in popularity mostly thanks to the Netflix show Drive to Survive. And with the 2025 F1 season fast approaching next month, it will probably be another massive year with a long, jampacked calendar. And, as we have reported on previously TAG Heuer is now the new official timing partner for the next 10 years, so this review seems timely!

We recently saw TAG Heuer release their new range of Formula 1 chronographs at LVMH watch week in January, but today we are looking at the limited edition TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Oracle Red Bull Racing limited edition chronograph that was released last year and the very watch that we are giving away in conjunction with Fuel Asset Finance and Wallace Bishop. So not only is this a review of this piece, but it’s a piece that you can go into the draw and have a good chance of winning! Details at the end of the article.

Initial thoughts

OK, so the TAG Heuer Formula 1 range is fairly iconic for the brand, and it gives both watch enthusiasts as well as motorsport enthusiasts the ability to wear a piece on their wrist that showcases their love for F1, not to mention a great entry point into the TAG Heuer brand. The piece we are looking at today is the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team 20th Anniversary, limited to 3000 pieces. When I first picked up this watch, I could tell that it was solid, and by this I mean solid in a good way as it doesn’t feel light like many quartz watches. It has the solidity and the weight of a full mechanical watch, so this instantly adds to the feel of it. At first glance, the dial is probably a little busy, but in saying that, it fits all the functions of the chronograph on the dial easily, and with the large luminescent numerals applied to the dial, reading the time seems fairly easy.

On paper, the size might suggest this is a large watch, but as we’ve discussed before, even the larger, sportier pieces from TAG Heuer, such as the Carrera Extreme Sport or the new Formula One range all wear very well thanks to the ergonomic design. So placing this on the wrist for the first time, it doesn’t feel too overly large or onerous on the wrist. So, without further do, let’s jump in!

The Design

Up until this year, TAG Heuer hasn’t changed the design codes all that much on the Formula One chronograph range. This piece is no exception. The case has that recognizable case shape that TAG Heuer uses, in some way similar across their Carrera range as is with the Formula One. The angular lugs give it better form, although have minimal taper and curvature on the wrist.

The case is made from steel with a black DLC coating which adds to the style of the piece, and the black fixed bezel with the tachymeter stands out with the deep blue insert and silver markings. If we look at the dial, I’ll be honest, there is a lot going on here. So let’s walk through it.

Given this is a chronograph you have multiple subdials, not to mention the yellow centre chronograph second hand. At 3 o’clock you have your standard running small seconds, at 6 o’clock you actually have a 1/100th of a second dial that spins around one full revolution every second, and at 9 o’clock you have a 30-minute chronograph counter. There’s a date window at 4 o’clock, which is tucked away nicely and you don’t notice it too much unless you’re looking for it, which is great for those who want the ability to read the date without interrupting the aesthetics of the dial too much. The dial itself is a really nice deep blue with a subtle graining, so in the right light, you can see the texturing, which just elevates the whole look of the watch. Around the outside of the dial, you have the fully applied luminescent numerals, which makes this piece easy to read during the day and also at night.

All of this adds up to a piece that is extremely sporty and, like the steering wheels in a Formula 1 car’s cockpit, has all the information you need at a glance and at your fingertips. The Red Bull writing runs down the left-hand side of the dial, which is not a bad design cue given this is a collaboration piece between TAG Heuer and the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team. From a design perspective, you could probably have left this off the dial given the blue, red and white colour scheme, you would get the idea that this is a collaboration with Red Bull.

The blue rubber strap is fitted with the case using spring bars and, like most TAG Heuer sports watches that have a rubber strap, is actually pretty flexible but solid at the same time. The great thing about this piece is it has a black DLC pin buckle which means you don’t need to cut the strap like you do on some of the newer pieces with the push button, folding clasp and micro adjust. The downside of this is you don’t get the micro-adjust, so sizing perfectly to your wrist may not happen if your wrist doesn’t lineup with the pin buckle exactly. But this is nothing unique obviously, as many many watches have had this for decades.

How It Wears

As I alluded to before, these watches fall on the larger side but do wear well, and for someone who has owned a few TAG Heuer sports watches in his time and also done many many reviews on Carrera‘s, which have the similar design codes, I can tell you I’ve not yet put a TAG Heuer Carrera or Formula One on that hasn’t felt reasonably good on my wrist. So this is probably a testament to TAG Heuer and the design team getting the ergonomics of the watch right for a range of wrist sizes.

Now I don’t have a super small wrist, being around 17.5 cm in circumference, but this piece at 43mm fits it pretty perfectly. Part of the reason it wears so well is the short (ish) lug-to-lug across the wrist of 47.5 mm. As the rubber strap is also fitted and fixed, it essentially comes out and around the wrist, and follows the contours. Essentially it means it wears nicely, and the 12.4 mm thickness means it has a visual appearance smaller than the spec sheet would suggest. 

Operating the chronograph on this piece is a bit of an experience as you have both a quartz movement, which means the secondhand does tick rather than sweep, however, the 1/100th of a second chronograph subdial at 6 o’clock spins rapidly around so you get that theatrical effect from the piece. I will say though, the chronograph pushers are slightly stiffer compared to what you would have with a normal mechanical, but for the small amount of times that you would use the function it’s probably not going to worry you all that much.

Wearing the watch around is actually fairly easy as mentioned if it’s fitted to the wrist pretty well. When you’re wearing it, the Formula 1 is a piece that you don’t notice is on all that much thanks to the fit, comfort and balanced weight. The other benefit is that it’s a 200m water-resistant piece with a full screw-down crown so it’s fairly robust. You can wear it out and about on the weekends, getting outdoors, playing with the kids or whatever life throws at you.

The Movement

Inside the TAG Heuer Formula 1 chronograph Oracle Red Bull Racing is a quartz chronograph movement. Normally when we are reviewing mechanical watches, we would go a lot more in-depth into the movement and the specifications, the beat rate, etc., but in this case, as it’s a quart movement, there’s not as much that we can say around this. Being a quartz movement, however, you know this will be super accurate. I know the few days I had the piece on, it didn’t lose or gain any discernible time at all as a result. Quartz generally beats at 32,768 vibrations per second, and when compared to, say, a 4Hz mechanical movement that beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, you can see why the accuracy is what it is.

The crown is also a screw-down crown, which is great as adds to the water resistance of the piece. There is a little bit of play in the crown stem, but not a massive amount, so it is not going to affect you setting the time accurately to a reference time.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph Oracle Red Bull Racing is a great collector piece for those who love Formula 1, Red Bull, and of course TAG Heuer. Over the few days I had to wear this piece, I didn’t have really any complaints, and while I’m not one for normally buying a quartz watch, this is one of those pieces you could quite easily add to your collection and use on a daily basis. Or, it could be a piece that you wear out and about on weekends, one that you don’t have to worry too much about babying. A great weekender as I say.

The other thing that racing enthusiasts will love is the collectors box that the watch comes in, complete with the Oracle Red Bull Racing colours and logo – celebrating 20 years of the team. The additional benefit is the bonus travel case that the piece comes in. If you are going away and want to take it with you as well as a few other pieces, you can quite easily transport it without worrying about damaging the watch. Overall, it’s been a fun piece to wear, something a little different to what I would normally have on my wrist.

If you love Formula 1, Red Bull or both, it’s a piece that you can quite easily have in your collection. Now, this piece is sold out online, but there are a few still in boutiques, however, we, along with Fuel Asset Finance and thanks to our friends at Wallace Bishop Jewellers have got our hands on it, so you can have the chance to enter our completion to win this very watch. Just click the link below and head to our Instagram.

Click To Win The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Oracle Red Bull Racing

Reference: CAZ101AZ.FT8090

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 43mm x 47.5 mm lug-to-lug x 12.4mm thick
• Case Material: Black DLC-coated steel
• Case back: Black DLC-coated steel with Red Bull logo and checkered flag motif
• Dial: Fine-grained blue with small seconds, 1/100th second and 30-minute counters
• Crystal: Flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
• Water Resistance: 200m / 20bar
• Movement: Quartz chronograph movement
• Strap: Blue rubber strap with black DLC-coated steel pin buckle

Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $3,850

Availability: The majority is sold out, but head to Tagheuer.com for more details, and to win, head to our Instagram page now to enter!