Toro Rosso, McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari announce their presentation dates
Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Toro Rosso teams have announced the unveiling dates for their new cars for the 2018 season.
The quadruple world champion team Mercedes has announced the date on which its 2018 car will be unveiled. Coincidence or not, the German-British team will reveal its W09 on the same day as Scuderia Ferrari, which is February 22 at Silverstone. The two teams have also agreed not to unveil at the same time, to facilitate the work of journalists and satisfy the fans’ appetite.
In any case, it is certain that the star-branded team’s will begin 2018 with the ambition to secure another championship double. The German war machine will still rely on its now four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
Save the date… #W09Countdown pic.twitter.com/fxiOIfCYj8
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 18 janvier 2018
On the McLaren side, the unveiling ceremony for the MCL33 will take place the day after Mercedes and Ferrari, on February 23, without the location being revealed by the British team. The 2018 season will mark the start of a new era in Woking, as they will be equipped for the first time in their history with a Renault engine. This new partnership will be marked by hope after three years of unsuccessful collaboration with Honda.
On the other hand, there will be no change in the driver duo, which will still consist of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, with Lando Norris as the third driver. The car’s livery could still evolve this season according to its director Zak Brown.
History assembles. #MCL33 launch 23.02.18. #BeBrave pic.twitter.com/ZzxvXgBRZS
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) 18 janvier 2018
The small Italian team Toro Rosso has chosen to unveil its STR13 on February 25, on the eve of the winter tests. The new version of Red Bull’s sister team will obviously be revealed to the public at the Barcelona circuit, which has hosted preseason tests for several years. Unlike McLaren, the Faenza-based structure successfully passed the FIA’s crash tests on January 16.
Toro Rosso will experience a real upheaval this year with a Honda engine installed at the rear of the cars for the first time. On the personnel front, the team will have to compensate for the departure of their head of aerodynamics, Brendan Gilhome, as well as former engineer of Carlos Sainz, Marco Matassa, who is leaving for Ferrari to focus on the Scuderia’s young driver program. Behind the wheel of the two Toro Rosso cars will be Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, who have already competed in a few races with the team at the end of last season.
The winter tests will take place this year from February 26 to March 1, then from March 6 to 9 for the second session.
