Alain Prost has long been associated with TAG Heuer, but I don't think I've ever seen a picture of him wearing a TAG watch during his racing years with McLaren. His racing suit sleeves are almost always covering his wrists in all the photos I've seen. It was hard to know if he was even wearing a watch and if so, what kind.
Finally, I was looking through an old book and spotted this pic. I believe he may be wearing a TAG Heuer Series 2000 ref. 974.013 or 974.006. Taken at the 1986 Brazilian GP, the first year that the McLaren MP4 cars would wear "TAG Heuer" on their windshields.
Perhaps it's just me, but I find Alain Prost's relationship or personal preference to wear Ebel watches during his TAG Heuer x McLaren years astonishing! 😲
Given how heavily Prost's McLaren was featured in adverts, catalogues and even on the box of the OG F1 itself, I was always falsely under the impression that he had some type of relationship with TAG Heuer back then.
But having found this old Ebel advert, it confirms I've had the wrong impression for decades! The first paragraph is apparently a quote from Alain Prost, describing his first win of the 1989 season in Phoenix Arizona, with an Ebel automatic on his wrist. (Prost was with Honda McLaren that year.) The second paragraph states as of 1991, Prost had been in F1 for 12 seasons, and always with Ebel. (He was with Ferrari in 1991.)
Which basically means during his entire time with TAG Heuer sponsored McLaren, he was wearing Ebel. Strange bed fellows, TAG Heuer front & center on his windshield but an Ebel on his wrist. This would be like Max wearing his personal Rolex while racing his TAG sponsored RedBull today! 😒
Surely it’s personal preference. Prost liked Ebel, much like Max likes Rolex. Not their fault Tag / Tag Heuer sponsor then vehicle etc.
Isn't that the reason why TH haven’t released an official Max championship watch?
I guess Ebel was a personal sponsorship that he didn't want to give up? What's more surprising is that it didn't cause a conflict, I guess Ebel must have been okay with the fact that Prost drove a car with TAG Heuer stickers on it... I mean how did they advertise Prost's involvement without looking a bit silly?
Different time, people and brands weren't so hyperbolic and extreme about these things. It was perfectly reasonable to do that sort of thing.
We had ITV filming a scene in our shop for a TV series - had to get rid of all branded items, but neglected to clear out the cabinet that has some of my collection. They get to shooting and the first camera shot starts off pointing at one of my metal TAG shields, pans across a stack of TAG caps and finally gets to the actors.
Will be interesting to see if any of the shots, particularly that one, make it into the show - unfortunately, won't know until next year when series 5 is out.
The 2017 Baywatch movie featured TAG Heuer. Although I don't believe the Rock or Zac Efron wore TAGs in the movie.
I revisited this movie today, mainly because of Alexandra Daddario 😉, and I didn't remember this other connection between this film and TAG Heuer (Perhaps it was in this film where Alexandra and TAG Heuer met?)
Never watched the Baywatch movie
Must be a bad guy if they wear the bracelet that loose - psycho!
Why is it upside down in the box? Is it because that woman is wearing her watch upside down?