Renault R.S.18

The R.S.18, driven byNico Hülkenberg, during theAustrian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designers	Bob Bell(Chief Technical Officer) Nick Chester(Chassis Technical Director) Naoki Tokunaga(Chief Transformation Officer) Chris Cooney(Engineering Director) Martin Tolliday(Chief Designer) Simon Virrill(Deputy Chief Designer) Pierre Genon(Head of Performance Systems) Pete Machin(Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	Renault R.S.17
Successor	Renault R.S.19
Technical specifications[1][2][3]
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system
Suspension (rear)	Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion bars
Length	5,480 mm (215.7 in)
Width	2,000 mm (78.7 in)
Height	950 mm (37.4 in)
Axle track	Front: 1,600 mm (63.0 in) Rear: 1,550 mm (61.0 in)
Engine	Mecachrome-built and assembled Renault R.E.18 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injectionV6turbocharged engine limited to 15,000RPM in amid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motor	Renaultkinetic andthermal energy recovery systems
Transmission	Renault eight-speedsemi-automaticsequential titanium gearbox + 1 reverse gear
Battery	Infiniti lithium-ion
Weight	733 kg (1,616.0 lb)
Fuel	BP Ultimate
Lubricants	Castrol Edge
Brakes	Carbon discs and pads withBrembo calipers and AP Racing cylinders
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (dry) Pirelli Cinturato (intermediate and wet) OZforged magnesium wheels: 13"
Clutch	AP Racing electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
Competition history
Notable entrants	Renault Sport F1 Team
Notable drivers	27.Nico Hülkenberg 55.Carlos Sainz Jr.
Debut	2018 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 21 0 0 0 0

TheRenault R.S.18 is aFormula One racing car designed and constructed by theRenault Sport Formula One Team to compete during the2018 FIA Formula One World Championship. The chassis was designed byNick Chester, Chris Cooney, Martin Tolliday, and Pete Machin withBob Bell overseeing the design and production of the car as a chief technical officer andRémi Taffin leading the powertrain design. The car was driven byNico Hülkenberg andCarlos Sainz Jr.^[4] The car made its competitive debut at the2018 Australian Grand Prix.

Following Renault's return to the sport as a constructor in2016, the team underwent a recruitment drive and began investing in itsEnstone facilities. With the development of the R.S.18, the Enstone factory was expanded to accommodate the team's operations.^[5]

The debut in Australia was positive for the R.S.18 with the two cars qualifying in Q3 and a seventh and tenth place finish scored respectively by Hülkenberg and Sainz in the race, despite an attack of nausea due to a failure of the watering system that occurred to the latter in the final stages of the race. The good impressions of the first race were confirmed in Bahrain where the German driver obtained a sixth place while Sainz narrowly missed out on finishing in the points, finishing eleventh. At the Chinese Grand Prix, both cars in the series managed to score points, with Hülkenberg finishing sixth and Sainz ninth.

Also in Azerbaijan, Renault proved to be competitive starting from qualifying, placing both drivers in Q3 for the fourth consecutive time in four races. In the first laps of the race, the two French cars showed good speed on the long straight, making several overtaking moves against the two Red Bulls, which took Sainz to fourth position and Hulk to fifth. However, on the tenth lap the German driver's race ended when he touched a wall with his right rear tire, destroying the suspension. After a "crazy" race and also thanks to the retirement of the two Red Bulls, Sainz finished the race fifth.

In qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Hülkenberg is the victim of a fuel problem, which becomes apparent in his first attempt. The German driver returns to the track in the final moments of the session, taking the sixteenth time that eliminates him from qualifying. Sainz instead ends his qualifying in ninth place. At the start, Romain Grosjean goes off the track, tries to get the car back but finds himself in the middle of the track, after having raised a large cloud of smoke thus hitting several drivers including the German Renault driver who is forced to retire. The Spanish driver of the instead finishes the home Grand Prix in seventh place. Thanks to this result, Renault overtakes McLaren in the Constructors' World Championship. In Monaco, Canada and France the two Renaults always manage to score points.

The R.S.18 proved to be a vast improvement compared to its predecessor. By the end of the season, Renault finished 4th in the constructors' championship as "the best of the rest" with 122 points.

The R.S.18 sported a black and yellow livery, the yellow tone was brighter than the previous year. Sainz' personal sponsor,Estrella Galicia was present on the sidepods. The team also sponsored byLa Liga football league.

At theBritish Grand Prix, the car ran with a special livery to promote the new film,Incredibles 2. The red and yellow stripes were decorated across the fin.

In 2021,Fernando Alonso drove the R.S.18 inAlpine A521 livery at theCircuit de la Sarthe. Later in the same year, a modified R.S.18 was used during testing of the 2022 tyre compounds after theAbu Dhabi Grand Prix.^[6]

(key) (results inbold indicate pole position; results initalics indicate fastest lap)

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