Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer introduces the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Automatic Chronograph x Gulf, the fourth edition of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collaboration with Gulf Oil, leaving a lasting imprint on racing culture. This new timepiece translates the visual force and mechanical demands of racing into a watch that holds presence both in motion and at rest. It draws directly from the culture of the track, where color carries meaning, where materials serve performance, and where precision defines every moment.
Where Color Became a Signature
Discretion is not a word that can be used to describe Gulf’s entrance into racing. Its blue and orange livery was designed to stand out under pressure and to remain visible through distance, heat, and speed. Over time, those colors became inseparable from machines that defined a generation of racing, carving their presence into circuits such as Le Mans and making them instantly recognizable even at full pace. That visual identity moved beyond the track when Steve McQueen brought it into focus in the film Le Mans. The camera lingered on the cars, on the tension, on the drivers, and through it all the Gulf colors held their ground. They became part of how racing was remembered and imagined. TAG Heuer was already deeply embedded in the world of motorsport, with precise timing at its core. The connection with Gulf grew naturally out of this shared environment. Both names are linked by the same demand for clarity under intensity, where every element must perform without hesitation. In 2026, the two brands decided to work together again, building the fourth edition of a watch that marked both motorsport and watch aficionados.
A Dial With Two Lines
Drawing directly from the visual codes of racing, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Automatic Chronograph x Gulf introduces a dial structured with clarity and depth. The blue running track encircles the black opalin surface, creating a strong contrast that immediately anchors the design, while the iconic Gulf stripes in blue and orange cut across the dial, referencing the cars that carried these colors into racing history. The chronograph layout is seamlessly integrated within this architecture, reinforcing the instrument-driven nature of the watch. Skeletonized hour and minute hands bring a lighter, more technical presence, enhancing legibility while allowing the dial to open up visually. Drawing from TAG Heuer Formula 1 livery geometry, the indexes feature sharper lines that mirror the aesthetic of racing machines.
Framing the dial, the tachymeter bezel features a forged carbon insert, a material closely tied to high performance engineering. Its irregular surface gives each piece a distinct identity. The colored ring positioned between the case and bezel introduces a subtle yet deliberate transition, linking the construction of the watch to Gulf’s signature palette.
The 44 mm case, crafted in sandblasted Grade 2 titanium, combines strength with reduced weight, ensuring both durability and comfort. The shaped pushers, finished in black DLC, emphasize the mechanical feel of the chronograph, while the crown, marked with orange lacquer, adds a precise visual reference inspired by racing instrumentation. Turning the watch reveals a caseback engraved with the Gulf logo, a clear signature of the collaboration that anchors the piece within a visual identity instantly recognized by racing enthusiasts. The bracelet is crafted in sandblasted Grade 2 titanium, ensuring durability with a balanced feel on the wrist and a seamless integration with the case. The watch is presented in dedicated packaging featuring Gulf’s signature blue and orange tones, with the logo placed inside. Limited to 1000 pieces, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Automatic Chronograph x Gulf asserts a clear and exclusive presence within the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection.
Some pieces speak quietly. This one does not.
