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Toro Rosso officially unveil STR13, their first car with Honda

Toro Rosso have officially unveiled their first car since joining forces with Honda for the 2018 season, the STR13.

Their 2018 challenger, which features the same distinctive blue and red livery of last season, was presented ahead of the first winter test getting underway in Barcelona.

F1 2018: The new cars on parade

The STR13 has a nose similar to that of parent team Red Bull's RB14 and wing detailing above the halo.

Toro Rosso had released a first image of the car last Wednesday after an unauthorised image was leaked on social media following the team's filming day in Italy.

Toro Rosso subsequently responded with a picture of their own and the message: "Why settle for a leaked photo, when you can have an original."

New engine suppliers Honda tweeted: "People leak photos, we leak better ones. See you at testing @ToroRosso."

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Toro Rosso have swapped Renault engines for the Honda power units discarded by McLaren.

www.sutton-images.com..The new Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13 at Formula One Testing, Day One, Barcelona, Spain, 26 February 2018.

Given Honda's underperformance with the 20-time world champions, Toro Rosso have been predicted to struggle in 2018 by many F1 pundits but the team remain optimistic the exclusive partnership with the Japanese manufacturer can enable them to challenge towards the front of the field.

Toro Rosso: Four fast facts

  • Toro Rosso have finished seventh in the Constructors' Championship for four consecutive seasons
  • Toro Rosso have only once finished on the podium - first place at the 2008 Italian GP
  • Brendon Hartley is the reigning World Endurance Champion
  • Toro Rosso are the ninth different F1 team to run Honda engines

It is the third year in a row in which Toro Rosso embarked on a new season with a fresh engine partner after running Ferrari power in 2016.

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The team have also changed drivers for 2018 for a line-up of 22-year-old Frenchman Pierre Gasly and 28-year-old New Zealander Brendon Hartley.

Although the pair drove for Toro Rosso during the final races of 2017 following the axing of Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz's departure to Renault, Gasly and Hartley will be the least experienced line-up on the grid.

Between them, Gasly and Hartley are yet to start 10 F1 races or score a single point in the sport.

Toro Rosso finished seventh in last year's Constructors' Championship after being pipped by Renault for sixth at the final race.

2018 car unveilings and launch dates

Team Date Car/Location
Haas February 14 VF-18
Williams February 15 FW41
Red Bull February 19 RB14
Sauber February 20 C37
Renault February 20 RS18
Mercedes February 22 W09
Ferrari February 22 SF-71H
McLaren February 23 MCL33
Toro Rosso February 26 STR13
Force India February 26 VJM11

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