Renault Sport R.S.18: 2018 F1 Car Specs & Stats

5th

Best Finish

7th

Best Quali

122

Points

24

Points Finishes

Car Profile

Team Renault Season 2018 Constructors' P4 122 pts Races 21 (42 starts)

Compare with another car

Power Unit & Tyres

Power unit Renault R.E.181.6 V6 turbo hybrid Also powered McLaren MCL33, Red Bull RB14 Tyres Pirelli

Drivers of the Renault Sport R.S.18

27 NicoHülkenberg P7 69 pts

55 CarlosSainz P10 53 pts

2018 Finishing Positions

5th 2

6th 6

7th 4

8th 5

9th 3

10th 4

11th 2

12th 5

13th 1

17th 1

DNF 9

DNF Did Not Finish

2018 Race by Race

21 Grands Prix

Nico Hülkenberg

766DNFDNF879DNF6512DNF131012DNF66DNFDNF

Carlos Sainz

1011957108812DNF129118817107DNF126

1Podium 7Points 14Outside the points DNFNot classified

Stats current as of: 20 Sep 2026

Renault's Continuing Rebuild

The Renault R.S.18 represented the third year of Renault's return to Formula 1 as a full works team following their reacquisition of the Enstone-based outfit from Lotus in 2016. Progress had been steady if not spectacular, the team had improved their competitive position year on year, moving from the back of the field toward the midfield, and the R.S.18 was designed to continue that upward trajectory and cement a position among the upper reaches of the non-Mercedes-Ferrari-Red Bull tier. The car's aerodynamic development reflected lessons from the R.S.17 and targeted improvements in low-speed mechanical balance alongside better adaptation to the Pirelli tyre compounds.

Sainz Arrives Mid-Season

The 2018 season is perhaps best remembered in Renault's recent history for the arrival of Carlos Sainz on loan from Red Bull/Toro Rosso. Sainz joined from the Japanese grand prix onwards, replacing Jolyon Palmer who had struggled to realise his potential in the R.S.17 and early R.S.18. Sainz's immediate impact was striking, the Spaniard scored points on his debut and demonstrated the natural speed that would eventually make him one of the most sought-after drivers in the paddock. Alongside Nico Hülkenberg, who brought his characteristic qualifying excellence and technical feedback to the programme, Renault had a more competitive pairing for the second half of the season than they had at the start.

Hülkenberg and the Quest for Consistency

Nico Hülkenberg's performances throughout 2018 continued to frustrate and impress in equal measure. His one-lap pace in qualifying, consistently placing the R.S.18 higher than race performance might suggest was possible, remained one of the grid's most reliable spectacles. Converting that speed into race results proved more elusive, as tyre degradation and race strategy sometimes conspired against him. Renault finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship in 2018, their best result of the comeback era to that point, confirming that the rebuilding project was on track even if the gap to the top three teams remained considerable.

Renault R.S.18 – Technical Specifications