TAG Heuer is proud to announce that two exciting F1 stars have joined the Swiss watch company’s dream team of brand ambassadors: two times and youngest ever F1 World Champion, Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, and long-term McLaren and Mercedes-Benz “protégé” British Lewis Hamilton . The two aces have signed on as drivers of team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and will line up on the grid in the 2007 Formula One World Championship, which kicks off March 18 in Melbourne, Australia.

At 25 years old, Fernando Alonso is the reigning World Champion, having won the last two consecutive FIA World Driver's Championship titles. Lewis Hamilton, 22 years old, was 2006 GP2 Champion, after dominating the 2005 F3 Euro Series. He has been associated with TAG Heuer already back in 2004, aged 19 only, when he drove to the UK title a Formula Renault bearing TAG Heuer logo and colors. Two strong personalities with outstanding technical skills, a constant search for performance and an indestructible mental strength fired by only ONE goal: to go beyond their limits to achieve an unforgettable F1 season!

‘’It’s a real honor and privilege to welcome Fernando and Lewis in the TAG Heuer family’’ says Jean Christophe Babin, TAG Heuer President and CEO. ‘’Having the n°1 F1 driver, with the mythical n°1 on the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1’s nose will be a huge motivation for all of us. For Lewis, it’s just as strong, since we have been fortunate enough to work closely with him for many years, since we decided to personally sponsor him in all the categories in which he previously competed– and won – before’’.

Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are joining today the long line of Formula 1 racing legends who have been associated with TAG Heuer and include, Juan-Manuel Fangio, Jo Siffert, Jacky Ickx, Emerson 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 or Kimi Raïkkönen.. Those extraordinary drivers have not only proudly worn TAG Heuer colors and products but also actively participated in the design and development of luxurious and stunning TAG Heuer timepieces.

TAG Heuer-McLaren: the longest-running and most successful sponsoring partnership in F1 history!

Already associated with the McLaren F1 team in 1974 when Emmerson Fittipaldi became F1 world champion for the second time, the current TAG Heuer-McLaren partnership began in 1985, when TAG Heuer signed on as the team’s Official and Corporate Partner. This partnership has led to great successes and created the Legend : six Constructors World Championship titles, eight Drivers 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 TAG Heuer-McLaren partnership is stronger than ever! The two leaders in their respective field of activities share the same values of Avant-Garde, Prestige and Performance. As official watch, official timekeeper and corporate partner of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team for the seasons to come, the luxury Swiss watch brand is also an active participant in the McLaren Technology Center by providing the ultimate timekeeping systems for testing sessions, and in the development of the common project of the “TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes Benz”, a dream watch inspired by a dream car!

All Vodafone McLaren Mercedes management, mechanics and engineers will wear different TAG Heuer timepieces, while Fernando Alonso will endorse the Carrera Chronograph Tachymeter and Lewis Hamilton the new Formula One Chronograph. As it has done for 23 years now, TAG Heuer watchmakers and McLaren engineers and drivers will actively cooperate in transferring innovative new ideas from Formula 1 to watch making.

Together with the other famous ambassadors, they will endorse the brand in the “What are You Made of?” worldwide advertising campaign.

TAG Heuer is proud to welcome Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton and wishes them a lot of success in the upcoming F1 season!

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