Three-time reigning Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen seems (already) well on his way to achieving a 4th consecutive title in 2024. Ultra-dominant on the Bahrain circuit, the Dutch driver struck gold in the first Grand Prix of the season… all the way to the wrist!
All weekend, and notably during his post-race interview, the star of the Red Bull team proudly wore an iconic watch on his wrist: a TAG Heuer Carrera.
Over 60 years of success for the TAG Heuer Carrera!
Those with a minimum knowledge of watchmaking know that the Carrera did not wait for Max Verstappen to shine. This iconic watch was born at the same time as a certain Daytona, in 1963.
The Carrera was originally inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, a road race considered as one of the most dangerous in the world, organized in the early 1950s in Mexico. The brand, then still simply called Heuer, is one of the first to develop a model designed for auto racing.
But it was only from 1969 that the Carrera took on a new dimension: the reference 1153 housed the new caliber 11 and became the first chronograph watch with an automatic winding movement. A novelty that then attracted many F1 drivers like Mario Andretti, James Hunt or his rival Niki Lauda.
With such a past, it is therefore not surprising to see Max Verstappen stroll through the paddock with the very latest version of this famous Carrera.
A panda watch adorned with yellow gold
For over four decades, it is especially in its panda version that the TAG Heuer Carrera has charmed sports chronograph enthusiasts. But among all the variants of these watches, the solid gold 1158 reference has always met great success. And the model that Max Verstappen is wearing at the start of the 2024 season is precisely a new interpretation of it.
This newcomer to the Carrera collection is adorned with a 39mm diameter satin and polished 18K 3N yellow gold case. Under its glass box, the brushed dial is also plated with yellow gold, providing an elegant contrast with the black sub-counters. The set is completed here by a perforated black calf leather strap, punctuated by a buckle… in yellow gold of course!
And as one does not become a three-time F1 world champion without paying attention to the mechanics, this Carrera (ref. CBS2240.FC8319) can rely on a reliable engine, with the automatic home caliber TH20-00, having 80h of power reserve.
If the 26-year-old pilot can proudly wear his TAG Heuer on and off the tracks, you will need to be patient and relatively wealthy to imitate him: the watch is offered at a price of 21,750€ and you must register on the waiting list to hope to achieve the same look as Max Verstappen… but also like a certain Ryan Gosling, who was also recently seen with this gold Carrera!
