TUDOR's boldest move yet takes to the grid

Formula One has enjoyed a lucrative relationship with the world’s finest watch manufacturers since Swiss-born racing driver Jo Siffert first sported a Heuer Autavia on the cuff of his racing overalls back in the late 60s. An understated, working-class hero who inspired Steve McQueen’s character in the 1971 film “Le Mans” Siffert instigated the coming together of two worlds, both obsessed with precision and driven by perfection.

This year, Formula One announced a record sponsorship deal with LVMH worth a billion euros over the next 10 years, which saw Tag Heuer return as official F1 timekeeper and title sponsor of the Monaco Grand Prix. While this means Rolex will no longer feature trackside, for the foreseeable, sister brand Tudor has stepped into the frame for the first time under livery of Racing Bulls, with up-and-coming drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar in the cockpit.

A history steeped in racing tradition and motorsport heritage, stretching back as far as the 1950s, this is a world Tudor is wholly familiar with. And to celebrate its latest partnership and F1 debut, the “Carbon 25” is a fitting reflection of the Bulls car itself, represented in just 2,025 movements. The special edition Black Bay chrono, uniquely encased in its super lightweight carbon fibre body and secured via its tyre-esque wrist strap, features a “racing white” domed dial and hallmark diver snowflake hands.

Currently battling it out for the midfield crown, Racing Bulls fans look beyond the mainstream, high-budget teams that dominate the top half of the grid (and the limelight). Rebellious, experimental—and somewhat unpredictable—but still with that race winning attitude and technology under the bonnet, their team spirit aligns perfectly with Tudor’s “Born to Dare” mantra.

Thanks to Netflix and social media, a new generation of fans has entered the sport. A demographic to whom the understated Tudor brand appeals, over its traditionalist sibling. They might share the same DNA, but Tudor is purposefully not a Rolex. Designed for the underdogs—those who know their vertical clutches from their column wheels—the next generation of watch enthusiasts has little time for the impracticalities of a rose gold clasp. Instead, they value progress, interrogate the data, and choose unique, unconventional ways to express themselves.

In an age where image is everything, it’s refreshing to see a watch brand and a race team going against the grain and celebrating what this sport is really about. The partnership between Tudor and Racing Bulls might seem unconventional—but that’s exactly what makes it compelling.

Jo Siffert wasn’t a world champion, nor was he born into wealth, but he commanded the respect of his peers through his authentic racing style—on the grid, and in the paddock.

This is a union built not on legacy and tradition, but on the belief that precision, grit, and quiet confidence still matter—on the track, and on the wrist. Now, all eyes are on whether this bold new vision can leave its mark on the tarmac.

The Black Bay Chrono Carbon 25 starts at £6,260, visit the TUDOR website for more information.