You've heard of the contemporary overpriced hype beast versions of the TAG Heuer Formula 1's - now meet the OG legend these were based on - like this full-serviced 1994 TAG Heuer Formula 1 “Nelson Piquet” Ref. 381.513 diver, on its original Heuer-signed rubber strap - which is every bit superior to the new ones (except, notably, in price).
 
During the 1987 Formula 1 season, Piquet's third World Drivers’ Championship (a prestigious annual title awarded by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile to the individual driver who accumulates the most points across the season's Grand Prix races), he was often seen wearing a TAG Heuer Formula 1 Ref. 381.513 like the example here, with one difference – the original black rubber strap was replaced in favor of the same Heuer F1 strap, but in blue.
 
Heuer’s long connection with auto racing can be traced back well before the Formula 1 dive watch to at least 1962, when a youthful Jack Heuer arrived in the United States to sell the Swiss company’s bestseller – stopwatches. Motorsports – in particular, Formula 1 – soon came to be sponsored, and then dominated by Heuer timepieces.
 
Nelson Piquet was never a dominant driver but a crafty expert in winning by stealth, according to his detractors.  He admitted he was lazy, yet willingly worked hard to improve his car.  He could be cold and cruel but could also be warm and funny. He hated being a celebrity yet lived the life of a playboy to the hilt.  He was never hugely popular but couldn't care less.  All Piquet cared about was driving a racing car, which he loved with a passion, especially when he won, which he did often enough to become a triple World Champion.
 
Born Nelson Sautomaior, on August 17, 1952, he used his mother's surname Piquet to hide his early racing adventures from his disapproving parents.  Piquet began racing in his home state of Brazilia, but winning championships in karts and sportscars failed to win over his parents, who sought to distract him by sending him to university.  
 
But studying philosophy, engineering and management proved no substitute for the lure of racing and Nelson dropped out after a year.  He sold his road car to buy a Formula Vee and in 1977 became the Brazilian champion in that category.
 
Formula 1 teams were impressed, however, and he was hired by Brabham boss Bernie Ecclestone to serve as understudy to Niki Lauda for 1979.  When the Austrian veteran walked away from Formula 1 racing at the end of that season the Brazilian newcomer became Brabham team leader by default.
 
In 1980, Piquet won three races and finished second to Alan Jones in the championship.  In 1981, his upward mobility continued and, with three more wins and a succession of high finishes in a brilliant Brabham BT49, he became World Champion.
 
"Winning is a feeling which you cannot imagine. I sometimes piss my pants on the slowing down lap."  His sometimes outrageous comments would eventually get him into trouble, though never with the Brabham personnel, who in appreciation of his earthy humor and hard work set up The Nelson Piquet Fan Club.
 
Some critics decided his refusal to play a role in the showbiz aspect of the F1 sport made him an unsatisfactory World Champion.  "What do they mean by that?" Nelson wondered.  "Do they mean doing a lot of publicity?  I don't want to make friends with anybody.  I don't give a shit for fame.  I just want to win."
 
The Heuer Formula 1 diver line is described in the 1995 Heuer catalog as the “sports watch for the young,” for “today’s fast-moving, hard-playing action generation,” and its design – Swatch aside – was unusual for the era, featuring hooded lugs, faceted cases; more or less, dive watch and motorsport designs combined. In publicity materiel, Heuer proclaimed the Formula 1 line designed for paragliding, windsurfing, white water rafting and rally racing.
 
In its original 1986 - 1995 production run, TAG Heuer's Formula 1 watches were designed to not only be hardy but affordable, and came in plastic and stainless-steel with a vast variety of colorful color combinations (37 in total!), with unique “double-branded” dials (the Olympics, Kenwood, BP, Indianapolis Speedway, Shell, etc).
 
And the TAG Heuer F1's sold.  Boy, did they sell.  An oftentimes ingenious marketing campaign didn't hurt, either (find the Heuer Formula 1 advert in the shop here).  Most watch aficionados recall their first watch as a Swatch...or a Heuer Formula 1 dive watch.
 
Following the recent success of the Omega/Swatch collab, the MoonSwatch, rumors abounded in many circles (watch, fashion, racing, etc - like this one in Esquire) that TAG Heuer should resurrect it's colorful Formula 1 line to compete. 
 
So Heuer – like any other Swiss watch line trying to re-live its glory days – teamed up with a random clothing line, and resurrected the Formula 1 line, albeit at five times (!) its original price point and in quite limited numbers when compared to the PG F1's.  Yikes!  But before the cash grab, there was the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 line, like the example here.
 
This Heuer Formula 1 comes on its original Heuer-signed rubber strap, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.