Pilot Christian Horner spotted wearing a Tag Heuer

Christian Horner was recently spotted with the TAG Heuer Autavia Chronograph Ref. CBE2110.FC8226 on his wrist — a choice that reads as considered rather than coincidental for a man who has spent his career at the intersection of speed, engineering, and spectacle.

The Autavia line carries one of TAG Heuer's most storied backstories. Jack Heuer introduced the original Autavia dashboard timer in 1933, and the name returned as a wristwatch in 1962, finding its place in both cockpits and racing cars before fading in the 1980s. TAG Heuer revived the Autavia in 2017 following a public 'Autavia Cup' vote — a savvy piece of community engagement — and has steadily developed the collection since. The CBE2110.FC8226 sits within the current generation, featuring a 42mm stainless steel case, a rich brown sunray dial with contrasting subdials at three and nine o'clock, and a vintage-inflected aesthetic that avoids pastiche.

Under the caseback sits the Calibre Heuer 02, TAG Heuer's manufacture column-wheel chronograph movement beating at 28,800 vph with a substantial 80-hour power reserve. It is COSC-certified, offering chronometric precision that validates the movement's credibility at this price point. The column wheel and vertical clutch architecture ensure smooth chronograph engagement — a meaningful technical detail rather than mere marketing copy.

For collectors, the Autavia occupies an interesting position: it offers genuine in-house manufacture, strong historical provenance, and a design language that rewards those who know the reference without demanding attention from those who don't. The brown dial variant in particular has developed a quiet following among enthusiasts who favour warmth and subtlety over high-contrast sports watch orthodoxy.

Horner's role as Red Bull Racing's team principal — the most successful constructor in the current Formula 1 era — makes him one of the sport's most scrutinised figures both professionally and personally. His selection of the Autavia Chronograph, a watch rooted in motorsport history yet worn without fanfare, reflects the kind of understated confidence that tends to define genuinely knowledgeable collectors. On the grey market, the reference trades at a modest premium, remaining broadly accessible relative to comparable manufacture chronographs from other Swiss houses.