richard_leeds wrote:I can't figure out why it isn't painted. Did they use separate body panels?
Yes Richard. In the 80's the carbon tub was made up of flat carbon fibre aluminium honeycomb panels joined with prepreg carbon tape. The car then carried carbon/glass reinforced epoxy body panels over that for aerodynamics.
Moulded chassis without body work first appeared on the Benetton B191 designed by John Barnard. In 1988, carbon fibre chassis were only 5 years old with John Barnands McLaren Mp4/2 being the first carbob fibre monocoque.
Mp4/5 used a modifed MP4/4 chassis as did MP4/5b. Only MP4/6 was a total departure.
I recall Lewis mentioning that the MP4/4 had only about 1/10th of the downforce that his MP4/25 has this year. Suddenly we can see where the problem with overtaking lies
Even engine covers that shield the entire engine are fairly recent developments. There were plenty cars in the 1990's that ran with only part engine covers