Toro Rosso to launch on morning of first test

Toro Rosso are to unveil their 2018 car on February 26, the first day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

The STR13 – Toro Rosso’s first Honda-powered car following their move away from Renault engines – is expected to be revealed in the pit lane ahead of its morning track debut.

It will be raced this season by New Zealander Brendon Hartley and Frenchman Pierre Gasly, the driver line-up with which Toro Rosso completed 2017 after the departures of Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat.

Toro Rosso finished seventh in last season’s constructor standings after narrowly losing out to Renault for sixth place, 53 points to 57.

The news means only Red Bull, Force India and Haas have yet to confirm launch dates for their 2018 challengers.

Confirmed 2018 launch dates: Williams - February 15 Sauber - February 20 Renault - February 20 Mercedes - February 22 Ferrari - February 22 McLaren - February 23 Toro Rosso - February 26