F1 2018: The new cars are launched
The Haas VF-18
Haas remain the lone American-based outfit in Formula 1 although much of the work on their 2018 car will have been completed at their factory in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Powered by Ferrari engines, the VF-18 – the first of the 2018 cars to be revealed – will be driven by an unchanged line-up of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. With both drivers in the final year of their existing contracts, a critical season awaits.
The Williams FW41
After a deeply disappointing 2017, Williams’ new car has undergone more changes than most between seasons with the team describing their new charger as ‘significantly different’ to its predecessor.
The FW41 is also considered to be the first car designed by Paddy Lowe, the former Williams technical chief who joined the Grove outfit exactly a year ago, long after the FW40’s design had been signed off. In January, Williams became the last of the ten teams to confirm their 2018 driver line-up when they named Sergey Sirotkin as Felipe Massa’s replacement.
The Red Bull RB14
Unveiled in a dynamic ‘launch livery’ – the RB14 immediately caused a stir on its unveiling – and when it became the first of the 2018 cars to hit the track at Silverstone a week before the start of F1 testing. Stung by their slow starts in 2016 and 2017, which left them playing catch-up to Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull fast-forwarded the launch of the RB14.
Expected to be one of the strongest on the field aerodynamically, its ability to challenge for wins and titles in 2018 is likely to be ultimately determined by the strength and reliability of its Renault engine – the glaring weakness, in Red Bull’s opinion, of their package in 2017.
The Alfa Romeo Sauber C37
This is the first car revealed by Swiss-based Sauber since their ”strategic, commercial and technological’ alliance with Alfa Romeo was announced – a tie-up which will see the iconic brand return to F1 for the first time in 33 years. The partnership is part of Sauber increasing their relationship with Ferrari, and the C37 will be powered by the Italian manufacturer’s new engines, having settled for year-old power units in 2017.
Sauber are also fielding a new driver line-up for the second successive season. While Swede Marcus Ericsson enters his fourth year with the team, Formula 2 champion and Ferrari protégé Charles Leclerc will take part in his first season in F1.
The Renault RS18
Hopes are high for a big step-up in performance from the Renault outfit in 2018, their third full season as a ‘works’ outfit following their buy-out of the Lotus outfit. But perhaps the most intriguing question is how Renault will compare to Red Bull and McLaren this year when running identical power units.
The RS18 faces a big battle against the RB14 and MCL33, although a confident Renault say their new car will ‘continue the team’s upward performance trajectory’, describing it as a ‘progression and refinement’.
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