Renault launch its 2018 challenger

  • Published on 20 Feb 2018 16:00
  • comments 19
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Renault has taken the wraps off its new car, the R.S. 18. The machine is the third of Renault's since it returned as a full-time manufacturer in 2016. It has been building upwards since then, and will be hoping that its latest design will bring boosted results.

The car has slightly modified its yellow and black livery from 2017. Renault has also elected to paint the halo black. Its nose design is also similar to its 2017 car.

The R.S. 18 will be piloted by Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz. Hulkenberg joined the French squad last year and scored its points throughout the first half of the season. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Renault replaced Jolyon Palmer with Carlos Sainz, who will continue for the 2018 season.

Jack Aitken also confirmed that he has been promoted to the role of reserve driver for the Enstone team. Artem Markelov has also been confirmed to now hold a test and development role. Both racers will drive in the FIA Formula 2 championship this year.

 

Fergal Walsh

Bhurt

Posts: 320

Launches car. Includes photo of Cyril. Why?

  • 1
  • Feb 20 2018 - 21:25

Replies (19)

Login to reply
  • Like the thin profile of the back. But, the front wing, and side looks far less busy than RedBull.

    • + 0
    • Feb 20 2018 - 16:43
  • I really like the livery. Although I think I preferred the tone of yellow from last year.

    • + 0
    • Feb 20 2018 - 17:27
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    Looks great simple clean and elegant, which is often fast too!

    • + 0
    • Feb 20 2018 - 18:21
  • Pauli

    Posts: 140

    Are they trying to copy RB13 from launch images or something like that?

    Too bad simple clean and elegant doesn't work well enough with aero performance restrictions so it looks like their aero will be 0.5-0.8 seconds down per lap unless they manage to add a lot details before season begins.

    • + 0
    • Feb 20 2018 - 19:26
    • I dont see any significant similarities between this car and Red Bull's. As for how Renault will perform: its too early to say. Remember how some doubted the performance of last year's Ferrari? Remember how that turned out?

      • + 0
      • Feb 20 2018 - 20:09
    • @Pauli I think you forget that launch cars as ALWAYS missing essential bits. You don't usually give away everything on launch. It's standard procedure. Furthermore, complexity in aero is definitely not positively correlated with performance either.

      • + 0
      • Feb 20 2018 - 20:20
    • Pauli

      Posts: 140

      Yeah. There isn't much similarity Rb13 except apparent simplicity of all details. But RB13 also raced with very simple aero bits in Australia. It took RB until second half of season to put all important aero details to the car to have chance against Mercedes and Ferrari.

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 19:09
  • Kean

    Posts: 692

    Knew about Aitken, but not about Markelov. Good for him, he may not always be the fastest over one lap, but he has great race craft and has impressed a number of times in GP2/F2.

    • + 0
    • Feb 20 2018 - 21:19
  • Bhurt

    Posts: 320

    Launches car. Includes photo of Cyril. Why?

    • + 1
    • Feb 20 2018 - 21:25
    • Barron

      Posts: 625

      ‘Cos Cyril is the boss? Why, shouldn’t he be there? ?

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 10:53
    • Bhurt

      Posts: 320

      Are they launching him as well? Have they upgraded Cyril for 2018? Is this new version of Cyril no longer an idiot? If so, that change, as massive as it would be, wouldn't be visible in a photo.

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 14:44
    • New, now with more areodynamic lies.

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 16:25
    • My thoughts exactly. Cyril didn't even wear the team uniform, or posed with the car. Just a proper individual picture fit for Instagram. Weird!

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 16:58
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Pauli looks at heavily disguised Renault on launch and predicts the aero will be 0.5-0.8 secs a lap down, you’d better add that with engine a further .8 secs down followed by the slow looking gearbox, the Renault drivers are going have their work cut out for them this season! ?

    • + 0
    • Feb 21 2018 - 10:59
    • Pauli

      Posts: 140

      I wish they are just hiding their aero details and they will actually have much more competitive looking car :)

      But for engine part. It looks like Renault may have managed to reduce their engine sizes finally based on RB14 shape. Reportedly they had promised engine size reduction already for 2017 but they didn't really manage it with all reliability and performance issues taking precedence.

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 19:12
  • Then replace Hulkenberg with Grojean then they will start get podiums!

    • + 0
    • Feb 22 2018 - 07:43
    • Bhurt

      Posts: 320

      Podiums? Not very likely. Inexplicable brake issues? Certainly.

      • + 0
      • Feb 22 2018 - 11:03
    • Brake issues and drama. Methinks there are good reasons for why none of the bigger teams consider Grosjean.

      • + 0
      • Feb 22 2018 - 14:25
    • Pauli

      Posts: 140

      To me it has looked like Grosjean is a good driver on a good day but he has too many bad days or many tracks don't suit his driving style. To me both Sainz and hulkenberg are very likely to bring more points over whole season. Points matters a lot for CC which is important revenue source for the best midfield teams.

      • + 0
      • Feb 22 2018 - 18:09

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 20 1991 (33)
  • Place of b. Horsham, GB
  • Weight 78 kg
  • Length 1.79 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar