Race to the Finish with the New TAG Heuer x Oracle Red Bull Racing Smartwatch: Performance at its Best

TAG Heuer has a long and deep-rooted connection with the world of racing, particularly with motorsports. Dating back to the mid-twentieth century, this association is a key part of the brand's identity. In the 1960s, Heuer became the official timekeeper for various Formula One events; there were partnerships with Ferrari, McLaren, and other prestigious teams, which cemented the watchmaker’s position in the realm of motorsports. Taking its association with Formula One ahead, TAG Heuer has unveiled its latest novelty, TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45MM x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition (Ref.  SBR8A80.EB0365). This timepiece encapsulates the racing DNA that both brands are known for.

The 2024 contender from Oracle Red Bull Racing, RB20, marks a drastic development of the 2023 victorious all-conquering RB19. The new car was revealed in a live presentation from the team's Milton Keynes factory in England; it will be driven by racers Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez of the Red Bull F1 team. The car will employ the RBPTH001 engine, which will be shared by sister teams Visa Cash App Red Bull and Red Bull Powertrains, as F1 engine development has been put on hold until 2025. The 1.6-litre V6 engine produces 900 horsepower, and it is mated to an eight-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic power shift and clutch operation.

The newly launched TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45MM x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition comes in a 45 mm black DLC grade 2 titanium sandblasted casing; the black ceramic bezel has a 60-minute scale. The vivid red and blue hues honour the collaboration. There is a black rubber, steel crown at 3 o’clock, and black DLC steel push-buttons at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock.

Wearers can choose from four distinct watch faces. The Season hero watch face highlights the nation in which the team will be competing on a particular weekend, with flags arranged along the bezel. Throughout the year, this watch face will change to reflect Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez's finishing positions with Oracle Red Bull Racing. The second watch face, Asphalt, adds a dynamic visual element to the user experience, and ensures that the wearer has a singular and immersive experience. Its textured backgrounds are inspired by race tracks. 

The RB20 watch face takes its name from the Red Bull Racing Car of this year, while the TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Red Bull Racing Special Edition watch face is an adaption of the mechanical version that was produced in 2022. If a user wishes to use the watch as a regular chronograph, then there are Arabic hour markers, a yellow central second hand, a 10-hour counter at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock, a seconds subdial at 3 o’clock, and a date window at 4:30.

Another standout feature is the special Oracle Red Bull Racing application, which provides a comprehensive picture of the Oracle Red Bull Racing season. The app displays a countdown before each weekend when the team races, and it displays encouraging visuals of the team throughout the weekend, from Friday's free practice to Sunday's race. It refreshes with the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver and team positions after the race, allowing you to stay in touch with the team's performance. Notifications for Oracle Red Bull Racing triumphs keep fans interested, with the option of receiving updates on Verstappen or Pérez.

This timepiece has a battery life of 24 hours and includes wellness monitoring. In normal conditions, this timepiece will take about 90 minutes to reach 100% charge. Powering the watch is the Calibre E4 movement. The piece also uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100+ chipset with BT 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC connectivity. The OLED display measures 1.39’’ 454x454 pixels (326ppi). This operating system is powered by Wear OS by GoogleTM. Other custom-built applications include TAG Heuer Sports, TAG Heuer Golf, TAG Heuer Wellness, a stopwatch, a timer, and an alarm.

Made of black DLC grade 2 titanium, the ultra-light caseback with a PPG sensor makes it the ideal connected watch both off and, most importantly, on the racecourse. These sensors monitor heart rate, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, microphone, and barometer. The watch also features a bi-material composition — a black rubber base with a blue leather inlay, accentuated by a red line — and refined stitching with light grey and blue tone-on-tone shades for harmony. The blue leather sports a unique asphalt grip finish, inspired by the racetrack. For those who prefer a classic look, an additional black rubber strap is also included. Both straps feature a buckle in black DLC grade 2 titanium, with the TAG Heuer shield logo.