News Two leading Formula 1 champions have joined the TAG Heuer “dream team” as ambassadors: the Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, two-times winner of the F1 World Championship and the youngest title holder in its history, and Britain Lewis Hamilton, a long-time "protégé” of McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.
"It is a real honour and a privilege to welcome Fernando and Lewis into the TAG Heuer family," said Jean-Christophe Babin, chairman and CEO of TAG Heuer. "Just knowing that the number one Formula 1 driver is now racing with the legendary N°1 on the bonnet of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is something that sets all of our pulses racing. For Lewis, this partnership has an even greater significance insofar as we’ve had the chance to work closely with him for many years, since we decided to sponsor him personally in all categories in which he competed – and won – previously," underlines Jean-Christophe Babin.
Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton today join the long list of legendary Formula 1 drivers who have been associated with TAG Heuer, whose names include Juan-Manuel Fangio, Joe Siffert, Jacky Ickx, Emmerson Fittipaldi, Clay Regazzoni, Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, Gilles Villeneuve, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansel, Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya, Pedro De La Rosa and Kimi Raïkkönen.
While TAG Heuer enjoyed an association with the McLaren stable back in 1974, when Emmerson Fittipaldi was crowned F1 World Champion for the second time, the current partnership between the watch manufacturer and McLaren began in 1985 when TAG Heuer became the team’s official sponsor. This particularly fruitful partnership is now a part of motor racing legend, being responsible for six Constructor World Championship titles and eight driver titles (three with Alain Prost in 1985, 1986 and 1989, three with Ayrton Senna in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and two with Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and 1999).
Today, the partnership between TAG Heuer and McLaren is stronger than ever! These two leaders in their respective fields share the same values of innovation, prestige and performance. In its capacity as official watch manufacturer, official timekeeper and sponsor of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team over the coming seasons, the watch manufacturer from La Chaux-de-Fonds also takes an active part in the McLaren Technology Centre by making available sophisticated timekeeping systems for test sessions and pursuing the "TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes Benz" joint project, a fantastic watch inspired by a fantastic car!
All managers, mechanics and engineers in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team will wear different TAG Heuer models, while Fernando Alonso will display on his wrist the Carrera Chronographe Tachymètre and Lewis Hamilton the new Chronographe TAG Heuer Formula 1.
March 15, 2007
