Renault and Alfa Romeo Sauber are set to be the first teams to unveil their 2018 cars after confirming their launch dates.

Both teams have announced they will launch on February 20, just under one week before the start of pre-season testing in Barcelona on February 26. At present they are expected to be the first cars to be unveiled, with McLaren launching its new car online on February 22 ahead of both Ferrari and Mercedes a day later.

Toro Rosso is planning an event in Barcelona on the day before pre-season testing gets underway, while Force India is also set to launch its 2018 car in Spain.

Renault’s new car will he known as the RS18, with the team hoping to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish in the constructors’ championship as it retains Nico Hulkenberg for a second year and pairs the German with Carlos Sainz. The Red Bull young driver switched to Renault from Toro Rosso for the final four races last season.

The new Sauber – designated the C37 – will be the first since the announcement of a new title partnership with Alfa Romeo that saw the team renamed. As part of the deal, Sauber is set for a clear departure from the predominantly blue livery it has run in recent years, with the Alfa Romeo red and white on display on a show car during a launch event in December.

Marcus Ericsson will enter his fourth year at Sauber, with the Swede to be joined by rookie Charles Leclerc after the Ferrari youngster, who dominated last year’s Formula 2 championship, replaced Pascal Wehrlein.