The 018 made its debut at the second race of the 1989 Formula One season, the San Marino Grand Prix.

Jonathan Palmer qualified the team's old 017B but raced the newer 018 instead, which he drove into the points with a sixth place.

[2] Two races later at the Mexican Grand Prix Alboreto took a third place behind reigning world champion Ayrton Senna and fellow Italian F1 veteran Riccardo Patrese.

[3] It was generally believed in the F1 paddock at the time that the 018 with its sleek aerodynamics was one of the fastest of the new 3.5L cars in a straight line, despite running the underpowered customer DFR engine.

Starting from the French Grand Prix, the yellow accents were added, courtesy of the cigarette brand Camel.