TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 45mm x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition | Image: Supplied

With Connected Calibre E4, TAG Heuer and Oracle Red Bull Racing are Back in the Driver’s Seat

By Nick Hall - News

Published: 22 Aug 2024, Last Updated: 23 Aug 2024

The most successful current connection in world motorsports is set to take on a new life. Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer has again collaborated with reigning F1 championship team Oracle Red Bull Racing to unveil the aptly, if not unimaginatively, named TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45MM x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition. Fusing the La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker’s remarkable eye for detail with the contemporary demands of high-octane motor racing, the latest timepiece is part smartwatch, part dedicated driver’s tool.

The latest timepiece comes amid an extensive period of domination for the two unique brands. Since teaming up in 2016, the TAG Heuer and Oracle Red Bull Racing have nabbed a whopping seven Drivers’ Championships, six Constructors’ Championships and a staggering number of podium finishes, but not all successes have been on the track.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45mm x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition | Image: Supplied

In 2022, TAG Heuer unveiled the Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Special Edition, a limited-run timepiece that paid homage to the longstanding motorsports connection. Featuring a Ronda 5040D quartz chronograph movement, the watch was robust enough to survive the harshest of conditions without compromising accuracy. Two years later, TAG Heuer has stepped things up.

The new TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45MM x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition takes the maison’s criminally under-appreciated Connected smartwatch and adorns it with a suite of contemporary features. Arriving in a black DLC grade-2 titanium 45-millimetre case, the timepiece makes a brash and bold statement, replete with the traditional blue and red colourway of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. The darker hues of the titanium, along with the black ceramic bezel, work to accentuate the striking red highlights across the strap and on the digital watch dial itself. It is here that TAG Heuer has concentrated much of its efforts.

As fans of the Connected will note, the timepiece has the unique ability to switch dial layouts, faces and components to suit the wearer’s needs. With this model, you can choose between four specific faces, starting first with the hero watch face, “Season”. With this module, the adaptive display showcases flags along the bezel, highlighting the current country where the Team is competing over the weekend. According to TAG Heuer, this watch face will evolve throughout the year, reflecting the finishing positions of Oracle Red Bull Racing drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.

From there, you can also opt for “Asphalt”, which features textured backgrounds inspired by the racetrack, an official TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Red Bull Racing Special Edition watch face that references the 2022 mechanical model or the “RB20” watch face, inspired by the name of this year’s Red Bull Racing Car.

There is also an Connected application that provides a comprehensive view of Oracle Red Bull Racing’s F1 journey throughout the year. When in use, you’ll find a race countdown, images of the Team, post-race updates and the option to receive driver notifications. All this arrives via the Wear OS by Google and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100+ chipset, delivered directly to the 1.39’’ OLED display.

Impressively, TAG Heuer has made sure that his timepiece isn’t just inspired by motorsports, but entirely functional on the wrist of a driver. As per the watchmaker, the ultra-light caseback features a PPG sensor and is, similar to case, made from black DLC grade-2 titanium.

Admittedly, as a smartwatch, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45mm x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition does have some downsides when compared to TAG Heuer’s mechanical alternatives, such as the battery life, but for the most part, the new Connected E4 delivers. It has all the functions you’d expect from a top-tier smartwatch, a striking design and the backing of a horological icon. What more could an F1 fan ask for?

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 45mm x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition will be available in August 2024. It is priced at AUD$2,800 and arrives on a bi-material leather and rubber strap in blue and red with grey and blue stitching.

View the Connected Calibre E4 45mm x Oracle Red Bull Racing Edition at TAG Heuer