Renault announces 2018 Formula 1 car launch date

The French car manufacturer is entering its third year back in F1, having taken over the Lotus outfit and invested heavily in its bid to get back to the front of the grid.

In a tweet sent out on Monday, the team revealed that the covers will come off the car in the week before testing gets under way.

Renault has picked Carlos Sainz Jr to join Nico Hulkenberg in its driver line-up for 2018, as it targets moving up from its sixth-placed finish in last year's constructors' championship.

The team will also be boosted by the arrival of former FIA F1 technical delegate Marcin Budkowski, who will officially begins work at Renault's Enstone factory in April.

Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul has faith that 2018 will finally see the results of its recent investment and infrastructure changes pay off.

"We have a big job to accomplish and as far as I can see we are aligned with that," said Abiteboul.

"The infrastructure is coming up, people are coming up, the commercial side - I know it is not super exciting, but it is also important to be able to finance that.

"We have had a very successful campaign of acquisition of new partners and they believe in the project, they can see the improvement at the factory but also at the track."

2018 F1 launch dates so far

Williams: February 15
Renault: February 20
Sauber: February 20
Mercedes: February 22
Ferrari: February 22
McLaren: February 23
Toro Rosso: February 25