Cracking images Bernie, A couple of things I’ve noticed.
The wings are old spec, not the debut MP4-19 front wing endplates and 3d rear wing. Although the rear endplate is notched. This notch I have been told (by Geoff Willis) is to bleed pressure from the steepest part of the flap to reduce vortex generation at the wing\endplate intersection and as a result reduces drag. It does not function to improve yaw performance.
New steering wheel moulding with ‘apparently’ moulded (grey) grips for the hands. I understand DC has asked for changes to the cockpit of the new car.
The burn marks are to the inside of the outlet, bearing in mind the exhausts are forward of the chimney the scorching must come from the flow out of the exhausts. So if the heat shields do not cover this area, then the exhaust flow might be going in a different direction to that proven in the windtunnel. So McLaren might have got some element of the windtunnel testing wrong by not replicating the “blowing” of the exhausts accurately (of at all..?). Regardless the flow avoid the exposed forward suspension members and is instead routed over the bulge and duck-tail. This shot clearly shows the broad flat duck-tail formed over the gearbox
Also the split front brake ducts, Mac have used the two scoops for a long time, the unusual angle from this shot shows how the lower scoop (flat triangular shape) is as wide as the regs permit and has a much broader surface area than is really required. Also we can see its proximity and relationship to the Front wing endplate. It is not as high as the endplate, but instead appears to be set at the height of the convex bulge on the outside of the endplate, this bulge is one of the key vortex generating shapes on the FWEP to send flow around the inside of the wheel. The scoops appears to act to prevent the flow coming up too high around the wheel. Suspension members are also shaped with this aim in mind to prevent the up-wash from the rear wing going over the sidepods (and hence bargeboards) upsetting the aero.
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