» Renault unveils its RS18

Hot on the heels of the unveiling of Alfa Romeo Sauber’s new C37 challenger, the Renault Sport team has taken the covers off its 2018 car, the RS18.

The car will be driven by Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz, who will spend their first full season together as teammates. Formula 2 driver Jack Aitken was announced as the squad’s reserve driver following the appointment of former third driver Sergey Sirotkin to a full-time race seat with Williams. Fellow F2 driver and race-winner Artem Markelov has been appointed as an additional development driver.

Immediately noticeable on the RS18 is a change in livery compared to its forebear, sporting a predominantly black paint scheme with flashes of yellow on the car’s flanks and nose.

Renault has secured additional sponsorship, with Spanish brands Mapfre and Estrella Galicia joining the team’s list of partners.

Sponsor-wise, two notable additions include insurance group Mapfre and the Estrella Galicia beer brand. Both Spanish companies have joined the team’s portfolio following Sainz’s appointment to the Enstone team from Scuderia Toro Rosso late in 2017.

In a bid to keep many elements of its design under wraps, the RS18 is seemingly fitted with a number of elements from its predecessor, including the curved endplate next to the sidepod entries called the ‘Asterix wing’. The car sports pushrod front suspension and pullrod rear suspension.

Jack Aitken, Carlos Sainz Jr, Nico Hulkenberg, Artem Markelov

Formula 2 drivers Jack Aitken (far left) and Artem Markelov (far right) will support Carlos Sainz Jr and Nico Hulkenberg.

After targeting fifth place in the 2017 Constructors’ Championship standings, the team finished sixth after narrowly overhauling Toro Rosso in the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Images via Renault Sport