Pilot Max Verstappen spotted wearing a Tag Heuer

Max Verstappen stepped onto the Monza podium in September 2021 following one of Formula 1's most talked-about race finishes of the season — a collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Rettifilo chicane that ended with Verstappen taking the win. Amid the controversy, one detail caught the eye of watch-spotters: a near-black, stealthy timepiece on his wrist that turned out to be a personalised version of the TAG Heuer Monaco 'Dark Lord'.

The TAG Heuer Monaco CBL2180.FC6497 is built around a grade 2 titanium case measuring 39 mm × 39 mm — the Monaco's signature square profile — finished with a Diamond-Like Carbon coating that gives it an anthracite-black depth no standard PVD treatment can replicate. DLC is harder than steel, scratch-resistant, and adds negligible weight to an already lightweight titanium substrate. The dial is slate grey with applied indices and a date window, powered by the Calibre Heuer 02, TAG Heuer's in-house column-wheel chronograph movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 80-hour power reserve. Verstappen's version adds a red '1' at six o'clock — the number of his championship-winning Red Bull RB16B — making it a one-of-a-kind commission rather than a standard production piece.

The Monaco's collector pedigree needs little introduction. Launched in 1969 and famously worn by Steve McQueen in Le Mans (1971), the square-cased chronograph has been a benchmark of avant-garde watchmaking for over five decades. The 'Dark Lord' moniker, applied to DLC-coated Monaco references, has developed its own strong following among enthusiasts who appreciate the model's racing DNA expressed in a more aggressive, contemporary aesthetic. The CBL2180.FC6497 sits within TAG Heuer's broader Monaco re-edition programme, which has systematically revisited historical dial configurations while advancing movement and material technology.

Verstappen has served as a TAG Heuer ambassador since 2016, and the brand has consistently produced personalised references tied to his race number and Red Bull colours. The red '1' detail on this Monza piece reflects his 2021 championship number and adds a layer of provenance that no grey-market example can replicate.

At retail, the standard TAG Heuer Monaco 'Dark Lord' CBL2180.FC6497 is listed at approximately $6,650 USD. On the secondary market, standard examples trade at modest premiums, though any direct Verstappen-associated or bespoke-numbered variant commands significantly elevated collector interest.