Christian Horner's Tag Heuer Monza is now available in a striking carbon-fiber edition.

When Christian Horner, the team principal, received his cash prize after a victory, he bought his very first Tag Heuer Monza watch at the airport on his way home, which remains a cherished piece in his collection. In early 2023, a completely unique version of the Monza chronograph was released, enhanced with a carbon case, blue-tinted sapphire crystal, and a flyback complication.

Tag Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer  CR5090.FN6001

The First Monza

Thanks to its precise and reliable mechanical stopwatches, the Heuer company had already become an indispensable player in professional sports timing since 1911. Jack Heuer, an electrical engineer by training, also understood the operation and importance of electronic devices, and with his team, created a timing system that was used for many years in motorsports.

In 1971 – and it is no exaggeration to say – a historic agreement was made with Enzo Ferrari. From then on, the Heuer logo appeared on Ferrari race cars, and in return, Ferrari's drivers and engineers gained more accurate and detailed timing data than ever before. Success soon followed. Niki Lauda became an F1 World Champion, and in 1976, the first Monza was released in his honor. It is therefore no coincidence that Christian Horner, currently leading the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, chose the Tag Heuer Monza at the watch boutique at Nice airport.

It is interesting and perhaps unbelievable to recall today, but the new model's name was originally intended to be Modena, which is Enzo Ferrari's birthplace – and where his museum can currently be visited. However, the legendary Italian racetrack, where Ferrari's victory was also secured that season, had such a strong allure that the concept was changed. The watches and chronographs belonging to the Monza model family have since remained highly sought-after and valued, especially as they are not part of the permanent collection; only a few special editions have been released over the past years.

Tag Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer

The 2023 Tag Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer presents a rare opportunity to own a brand-new Monza. The carbon-fiber case, as mentioned earlier, gives this edition a truly unique look while clearly referencing the technical solutions used in motorsports. On the right side of the 42mm case are a DLC-coated crown and the pushers required to operate the chronograph.

On the two-register skeletonized dial, the seconds can be read at 6 o'clock, while the other sub-dial at 3 o'clock features the minute counter for the chronograph. Both have red lacquered hands that move against a smoky, translucent blue sapphire crystal background.

The row of circular, blue-lacquered indices is only interrupted at 9 o'clock by the trapezoid date window. Its background, the indices, and the hour and second hands are all filled with Super-LumiNova® to enhance legibility at night.

In addition to the familiar "SWISS MADE," "TAG HEUER," and "MONZA" inscriptions, the word "FLYBACK" also stands out in red on the dial. This technical complication, commonly referred to in Hungarian watch circles by the same name, allows the built-in chronograph to be reset and restarted with a single press of a button. The hands instantly snap back to zero and begin a new measurement immediately.

Turning the watch over, you can see the case back made of grade 5 titanium alloy with a black PVD coating, featuring a transparent sapphire crystal insert in the center. Through this, you can peek into the Heuer 02 movement — an experience highly recommended. The energy required for the purely mechanical movement is provided by the rotation of the black rotor around its axis, offering a total power reserve of up to 80 hours.

Megfigyelhetjük működés közben a felhúzósúly forgását és a billegő oszcillálását is, miként a genfi csíkozású rozsdamentes acél hidat, vagy a pirosra lakkozott oszlopkerék fogait, amelyek a kronográf működését teszik puhává és pontossá.