The five new Formula 1 watches are driven by light—and we have a definite favorite.
The original multicolored Formula 1 watch launched in 1986 and sold in its millions. Made until 1995, it was worn by McLaren’s world-beating class of drivers, including Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Michael Schumacher. In 2024, TAG brought it back in its original 35 mm sizes for a limited remake as a collaboration with the US streetwear label Kith. The new F1s are not just larger. Other subtle design enhancements have been deployed: luminous hour markers, crisper hands, a sleeker, more angular interpretation of the old case shape, and Polylight instead of the old “Arnite” thermoplastic.
The new F1s are also solar powered, using TAG’s TH-50 movement with the solar module and circuitry from Citizen in Japan, attached to timekeeping elements supplied by Citizen’s Swiss subsidiary, La Joux-Perret. The dial, consisting of two superposed polymer layers, lets light through to a solar cell beneath, charging a battery that delivers energy to the movement. If left in complete darkness, a fully charged F1 will continue to run for 10 months, then once dead, it takes just 10 seconds of light exposure to restart.
Courtesy of TAG Heuer
This new collection should let fans of the originals bag a new plastic F1 with greater ease than the 2025 launch, which restricted plastic options to limited-edition drops tied to certain races on the F1 calendar. The pastel blue and beige don’t appear to be limited editions, but that pink version is restricted to 1,110 pieces for the 110th anniversary of the Indy 500 this year.
Although a fan of the F1s, WIRED has always felt these 38 mm models are priced slightly high. After all, Citizen’s own watches using the same tech top out at around $600. But they are still considerably cheaper than TAG’s Aquaracer Solargraph.
