SR71 wrote:
Just looking at the front wing and assuming it's doing the same thing that it does on an F1 car says a lot as well....
Well, it provides downforce and sets up the airflow to the benefit of aerodynamic devices downstream. Which is exactly what an F1 car's front wing does. From the images available so far, the wing is very similar to those found on F1 cars. Similar wings will preform similar functions when in a moving air flow.
"If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it's probably a duck."
Why do you assume that the car isn't intended to make use of racing car, specifically F1, principles where doing so would make it quicker? After all, the stated aim was to be quicker than an F1 car. Making a low drag F1 car but with F1 car downforce would certainly fit that brief.
If the aero designer's background is in F1, then it is reasonable to assume that he will make use of the things he is most familiar with where doing so would meet the brief.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.