Team: Tim Goss (TD), Sam Michael (SD), Simon Roberts (OD), Neil Oatley (Director of Design & Development), Jonathan Neale (MD), Ron Dennis (McLaren Group CEO) Drivers: Jenson Button (22), Kevin Magnussen (20), Stoffel Vandoorne (Res)
A place to discuss the characteristics of the cars in Formula One, both current as well as historical. Laptimes, driver worshipping and team chatter do not belong here.
From what I can see the differences are a (I haven't seen this change before although it doesn't mean it wasn't there) change in the profiling of diffuser. You can see where fresh carbon fibre has been laid down modifying the original design.
The shrouds around the front wheel brake disks appear to be different although this is probably a very track specific part.
As far as the small "diffuser wing" goes, I personally haven't seen it before but it seems others have. The difference between this and Williams design is that in the Williams car the wing seems to perform a bigger job. It appears larger and the diffuser is shaped differently allowing that wing to produce more downforce on the Williams. I wonder if it is connected to the rear wing end plates on the McLaren, as is on the Williams, and crucially if it has any role supporting the rear wing end plates.
The diffuser winglet has been on the car all season. It's a stand alone part that works below the mushroom suspension fairing. Williams have a wider winglet that acts like a beam wing, being both an aero part and supporting the top rear wing.
"...and there, very much in flames, is Jacques Laffite's Ligier. That's obviously a turbo blaze, and of course, Laffite will be able to see that conflagration in his mirrors... he is coolly parking the car somewhere safe."Murray Walker, San Marino 1985
