Toro Rosso & Force India unveil their challengers.

With F1 pre-season testing now officially in full swing, Toro Rosso and Force India were the final two teams to unleash their challengers.

Red Bull Toro Rosso – Honda – STR13

After the Faenza-based outfit gave fans a sneak peak of the STR13 during a shakedown at Misano last Wednesday, Toro Rosso unleashed their car Monday morning just minutes before pre-season testing began at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The STR13, will run in a near identical livery to it’s predecessor the STR12 and for the first time be powered by Honda after the Japanese manufacturer switched from McLaren during the winter.

The STR13 will be driven by two drivers who made their debuts for the Faenza-squad last year in Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley with the latter running the Italian-built racer at a very wet filming day at Misano last Wednesday.

The STR13 ran without any issues and after an unreliable start to testing last year, Toro Rosso are hoping for a trouble-free programme running over the four days in Barcelona.

“I’m really looking forward to begin this new season and enter a new era for our team, working together with Honda,” explained Team Principal Franz Tost. “It’s an exciting time for Toro Rosso because we have not had our own engine supplier before, so to partner with a manufacturer, with the history Honda has, will be great.”

“We also have two accomplished rookies for the 2018 season. They are not completely new because both Pierre and Brendon drove a handful of races for us last year, but this will be their first full season in Formula 1.”

“I’m convinced that if we provide them with a competitive car, they will be able to perform at very high levels. We have been working very hard on the STR13, and I’m happy we do not have to wait too long to see it running. The season has begun… Ganbarimasu!” Tost concluded.

Force India F1 Team – Mercedes – VJM11

Force India were the last team to the covers off their new challenger, the Mercedes-powered VJM11 which they hope will turn heads once again in the 2018 season.

The Silverstone-based squad unveiled their racer an hour before testing got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

The Force India VJM11 features a striking pink livery in keeping with the BWT sponsorship.

The rumours swirling around the paddock in the morning were that the new team and chassis name change would be announced today but it failed to materialise.

However, it is a high probability that Force India will undergo a name and chassis name change before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

“We’re still working on it, we still haven’t quite pinpointed what the name change will be, but we always said there will be a name change coming.” explained Force India Chief Operating Officer Otmar Szafnauer. “The deadline is coming close, and like anything, the closer you get to a deadline the harder you work to make sure it happens.”

Force India have finished fourth for the past couple of seasons, were “best of the rest” with consistent results and a smaller budget.

However, the Silverstone outfit are facing a tougher test on their hands with McLaren, Renault and Williams expecting major improvements and have the advantage of bigger budgets.

For the 2018 campaign, Force India’s VJM11 will be driven by talented and feisty duo, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon with Nikita Mazepin and Nikolas Latifi the team’s test and reserve drivers.

The aforementioned Mazepin is currently giving the Mercedes-powered VJM11 it’s first running in Barcelona.