Red Bull has (finally) announced that its (Renault) engine in 2016 will be badged Tag Heuer.

The official statement, issued this morning following months of speculation, reads:

From the milliseconds that separate victory from defeat to the finely balanced and perfectly measured rhythm of a racing engine, in motorsport timing is everything.

As the curtain falls on the 2015 Formula One season and the sport gears up for next year's challenge, the timing is right for Red Bull Racing to reveal that the team's 2016 F1 car will race with a power unit carrying the name of motorsport's most iconic timing brand - TAG Heuer.

The new partnership, which represents a shift away from F1's conventional supply systems, will see TAG Heuer take up naming rights of the team's power unit, which will be supplied by Renault. The new car will be christened the Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer RB12.

Deepening the relationship between the team and the legendary timing house, which can call on more than half a century of heritage at the cutting edge of motorsport, TAG Heuer will become the Official Timekeeper, Official Watch Partner and Team Performance Partner of the Red Bull Racing team from 2016 in a multi-year partnership.

Welcoming the new partnership, Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, said: "TAG Heuer and Red Bull are two transcendent brands which have both a passion for racing and a drive to do things differently, and this unique collaboration is further evidence of that. TAG Heuer has been an icon in the world of Formula One for many years and we're delighted that they've chosen to continue their association with the sport by teaming up with us. Our shared values of innovation and a desire to stand out from the crowd make this one of the most exciting partnerships in F1. We are also pleased to see Renault confirm its long-term commitment to F1 and would like to thank them for their contribution to the team since 2007. Their technical partnership with Ilmor gives us confidence, and we look forward to the 2016 season."

Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and President of the LVMH Watch Division, added: "Formula One is deeply-rooted in TAG Heuer's DNA, and Red Bull Racing is a young, dynamic and driven team, which perfectly fits with our marketing strategy. It will give TAG Heuer great visibility and allow us to make our partnership exciting, different and innovative. Our motto #DontCrackUnderPressure will be the guiding principle behind all our actions with the support of the Red Bull Racing team and its highly contagious enthusiasm."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by mickl, 06/12/2015 0:06

"I was under the impression that there were to be no 'customer' spec engines in 2016. Everybody had to be offered the same spec as and when they were available."

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2. Posted by just Mike, 05/12/2015 23:37

"I'm happy to see Red Bull officially sign something.

I do have a few questions, perhaps my knowledge of the regulations isn't quite keen enough. And just maybe these questions might stimulate an article or two during the slow news season which is now upon us. There are a couple of Toro Rosso question that I'm going to throw in there even though I know this is a comments dialogue on a Red Bull article but they are related.

First the Toro Rosso ones:

1) Exactly which version of the 2015 Ferrari engine will they have? Will it be based on the one Ferrari raced in Australia, the one Ferrari raced in Abu Dhabi or the one that Sauber raced in Abu Dhabi which had some upgrades over the Australia power unit but not all the upgrades that Ferrari had developed by the end of the season?

2) Will this engine be frozen completely for the entire season? Yes, it is a customer engine, but customer teams this year all had the option of taking upgrades, as they fit into their engine rotation schedule, if they so desired (and had the money to pay for upgrades, nothing comes without a price tag).

3) Why is only Toro Rosso running the 2015 spec engine. Ferrari's other customers Sauber and Haas will both be running the 2016 spec. Is Ferrari that afraid of Red Bull that they fear to be beaten with their own engine by Red Bull's 'B' team or is it simply a question of price?

Onto Red Bull:

1) I don't think I've read any commentator writing about it but I'm of the understanding that they will have the same number of tokens to use between now and Australia as Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda and Renault. I further am of the understanding that they will have the same number of tokens to spend during the season as the 4 factory engine suppliers. I know that's not really a question, the question is, is my understanding correct?

2) Assuming 1 is correct, is Red Bull free to use whomever they like to work on these tokens/upgrades? I really think Red Bull/Ilmore has been busier than we suspect this past summer, given that this is now december and they have untill the start of testing to develop and build next years engines, they are problably quite far along in R&D. Could they use other resources than Ilmore? I'm sure the VW group will emerge from under the cloud of the current crisis. I think that's probably going to take a couple of years, but when they do finally emerge they will be marketing quite strongly and what better venue than motorsport in general, F1 in particular, to shift the focus of our collective memories about their marquee. I think even in these troubled times they are casting an eye to the future. If a team of engineers from Porsche or Audi were quietly employed alongside the Red Bull/Ilmore team they would not only bring valued resources to the table, the VW group would benefit if their (future) development team were able to get their feet wet without actually entering the pool. It could well be that for the TAG name to resurface in F1 is not quite the coincidence we first thought.

Anyway I'm allowing myself to be cautiously optimistic about next season. I think we might teams racing teams rather than teammates racing teammates. If Toro Rosso even gets a modest benifit from the Ferrari engine that would see the fight for fifth place a bit more exciting, I think Red Bull might surprise us with a solid third, possibly even second, Lotus/Renault with an improved budget should be competitive, and Force India is looking at more money as well. All the bits and pieces are there for a tighter season. I still think merc will win, but I'm thinking /hoping they won't be walking away with it next year.

Wow ... that turned into a lengthy first post .... Cheers, -Mike"

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3. Posted by ScottC, 05/12/2015 11:55

"I've just realised my watch is just not good enough and so unless a better watch company gives me a better one I'll ... be wearing the same watch next year ... but with the name scratched out and a better name written in crayon so that will make it all better.

Damn I forgot to arrange a press conference to announce this and the fact that from Monday I have rebadged myself as Bernie Ecclestone so I'll have a better life as well."

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4. Posted by testa rossa, 05/12/2015 8:46

"So this TAG Heuer has nothing to do anymore with the TAG ( Techniques d'Avant Garde ) which sponsered the Porsche for Mac. ???

Nice we have at Pitpass journos who like to give information about Bernie's opera instead of F1 inside info.."

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5. Posted by gturner38, 05/12/2015 4:47

"alexak,

The way I see it, there's little danger of Tag-Heuer being blamed for any engine woes. If the Renault unit is terrible, I'm sure Horner will have no qualms about placing the blame on Renault. It will be clear that Tag-Heuer has no more input in their engines than Playlife did in the rebadged Mechanome-built Renaults 20 years ago. As for Renault, I'm sure a large check from the new sponsor was part of the deal."

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6. Posted by mickl, 05/12/2015 1:09

"Also if Mario Illien is behind the scenes with the mods then he probably doesn't want his name in the mud either if they don't work.

For Tag Heuer..well....next season can't be as bad as it has been with Mclaren for the past couple has it? Their 'engines' will still do better than Honda unless Honda takes a stratospheric leap in performance."

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7. Posted by mickl, 05/12/2015 1:06

"They've called it a Tag so that if the Renault PU in 2016 is rubbish they can modify it to their spec without breaking the rules.

Renault are supplying because it brings in revenue and buying Lotus will be a bit of a money pit until they turn the results around and having another team run their engines means more data for them.

End of the day....money talks....."

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8. Posted by scf1fan, 04/12/2015 22:39

"I'm sure glad the 3 Amigos stuck to their guns and refused to use those worthless Renault PUs!!! What? Wait a minute . . . You mean the TH PU is actually a Renault???

Wow! What marketing! Brilliant!!! <eye roll>"

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9. Posted by Yeyox02, 04/12/2015 22:26

"Renaming a power unit does not mean that suddenly it will be successful."

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10. Posted by meatball, 04/12/2015 19:51

"I think Renault partnering up with Ilmor has a lot to do with Horner's optimism. Why they'd do the smoke and mirror show over Tag branded Renault engines is a bit silly. "

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11. Posted by StephenA, 04/12/2015 19:07

"So no change at Red Bull - they keep the Renault engine; the source of their season-long distress in 2015. Really not sure how a sticking a new badge on it will make it better. Does sticking a Bugatti badge on a Ford make it an German super-car?"

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12. Posted by nonickname, 04/12/2015 11:19

"Well it is 'time' they sorted it out but is it the perpetual motion drive or the wind up drive?"

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13. Posted by alexak, 04/12/2015 11:19

"I do not understand the logic behind this at all can someone explain please?
RB have slagged off Renault all year yet compared to some teams they haven't actually done too badly in several races.

So

1, Who in their right mind would lend their company name in association with an engine knowing with high probability that RB will do the same to them?

2, After the way Renault have been treated why on earth are they supplying RB at all?

1, I really do not understand but 2, I suspect has a lot to do with their potential future cut of any prize money whilst running Lotus and in return they have probably been railroaded into keeping RB alive.

Observation:
Give it a couple of years and once the Renault lump is competitive again RB will be all for kissing and making up, after all it is not really a sport anymore but it is big business."

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14. Posted by Nortim, 04/12/2015 10:51

">motto #DontCrackUnderPressure<

Let's see who will crack first if they don't improve enough... "

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15. Posted by Jonno, 04/12/2015 9:48

"That's sorted. If the engine is rubbish, TAG Heuer can cop all the flak.

"

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Official: Red Bull to use Tag Heuer badged Renault engine

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