27 years after his tragic passing at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, three-time Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna is still regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, and remains one of TAG Heuer’s most important brand ambassadors. Limited-run custom tributes to the Brazilian racer have become something of a tradition for TAG Heuer over the years, and for its latest iteration the brand turns its attention to Senna’s iconic yellow racing helmet. With a modern blacked-out look, vibrant yellow accents, and prominent nods to Senna’s legacy, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 is a sporty and capable quartz homage to one of racing’s most enduring legends.

The 43mm stainless steel case of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 is finished with an aggressive, modern bead blasted black DLC coating for a racy and purposeful look in initial images. The overall form is shared with the standard quartz Formula 1 chronograph, and like the rest of the line should wear on the larger side on the wrist. The case geometry is sharp and simple, with longish tapering lugs and a distinctive gear-toothed bezel that evokes the classic Calibre 11 Heuer Autavia models. Thanks to the fully matte finish of the case itself, the radial brushing of the ceramic bezel insert stands out sharply in photos, complemented by the bold white tachymeter scale and the eye-catching yellow crystal gasket. Colored gaskets are a relative rarity in the current watch market, but offer a unique “pinstripe” approach to accent color that works handsomely with this particular high-impact colorway. Around back, TAG Heuer equips the Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 with a highly detailed caseback engraving, depicting Ayrton Senna’s familiar racing helmet. Thanks to a screwdown crown, the watch is surprisingly well equipped for underwater use, delivering a highly capable 200 meters of water resistance.

Like the case, the dial of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 augments its predominantly blacked-out color palette with jolts of bright Senna yellow. There’s a wealth of visual textures on display here in images, from the heavily grained sunburst texture of the main dial to azurage for the subdials, along with a polished black finish for both the tapering baton hands and matching sloped applied indices. While the bright yellow accents of the outer minutes scale, chronograph scales, and the Senna emblem in the 6 o’clock 1/10-second chronograph subdial give the design a much-needed pop of energy in initial images, these yellow elements also highlight some of the Formula 1’s more divisive design cues. First among these is the 4 o’clock date window, which disrupts dial symmetry somewhat. These blocks of color also draw the eye to the Formula 1’s off-axis subdials at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, which are a visual giveaway for the quartz powerplant within at a glance. Although some purists may turn up their noses at quartz in favor of traditional mechanical chronographs, Ayrton Senna himself was quite a quartz enthusiast, owning several quartz-powered timepieces including his signature TAG Heuer S/el.

Inside the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 beats the Ronda 5040D quartz chronograph movement. While it may lack the refinement of some of TAG Heuer’s higher-end in-house automatic movements, the 5040D is a solid performer with a 1/10 second chronograph function and easy affordable maintenance. TAG Heuer completes the package with an embossed black leather strap, with a split-S texture inspired by the distinctive bracelet links of Senna’s own S/el. For an added visual punch, this unorthodox strap also includes vibrant yellow side stitching.

Although it may be potentially be divisive among purist fans of the brand, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 offers a sporty and distinctive tribute to one of the most legendary figures in motorsports history, with nods to Senna’s own helmet and storied watch collection. While classed as a special edition model, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 is not strictly limited in production. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2021 is available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $2,300. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.