Formula 1 pre-season commences as Force India, Toro Rosso unveil 2018 cars

The 2018 Formula 1 (F1) grid is now complete as Force India and Toro Rosso have unveiled its contenders. The reveal took place at the first day of preseason testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

Force India

The Silverstone-based team Force India pulled the wraps off its new VJM11 F1 race car featuring an updated pink livery. Yes, this F1 car comes in a new shade of pink with highlights of magenta and silver to further highlight the colors of its main sponsor Best Water Technology (BWT).

Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez will be driving the new Force India VJM11 while Formula 2 driver Nicholas Latifi will be the reserve. In 2017, Force India managed another fourth place finish in the constructor’s standings despite several collisions between Ocon and Perez. With a more competitive mid-field this season, will they be able to improve or will the other teams catch up?

Toro Rosso

Just before preseason testing got underway, Toro Rosso revealed its much-anticipated Honda-powered STR13. Covered in the team’s striking blue and red colors, the STR13 is now powered by Honda’s RA618H thanks to an exclusive engine supplier deal back in 2017.

Will the Honda engine finally be reliable this year? If the preseason testing is any indication, it looks like the Japanese brand got it right this time around as Toro Rosso managed to do 93 laps around Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Taking the wheel will be last year’s stand-ins Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, who have both had a handful of F1 races last year after the departure of Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat.

With the F1 grid now complete, we can finally sit back and watch the 2018 cars in action on the video below.