
There is a discussion on the Sauber C33 thread about the weather the opening on the top of the engine cover on either side of the shark fin is an inlet or an outlet.
My view is that it is an inlet.
1. it has its outlet just above the exhaust. this is to take advantage of the low pressure area caused by the exhaust to pull air through the inlet at the top of the engine cover, in the classic venturi effect.
2. This could also shape the exaust plume cone to move upwards slightly, lessening drag on the rear wing.
Also, i don't think trick aero parts are going to be the performance differentials this season, or the major point of interest for me personally. The engines; reliability; KE and HE deployment and recovery; break by wire all of this things are all avenues for worthwhile development now.
So i think there is no sense judging these cars on what we can see is futile. its what we cant see that will really count this season and how they fuse all their individual solutions to problems together.
in short i can wait to see this thing (and its contemporaries) naked. bring on testing and sneaky shots, burning body work and hoisted cars.