The new monkey seat features four horizontal elements rather than the two more elegantly curved elements used on their usual offering (inset).

Meanwhile, two elongated endplates stretch down towards the crash structure where they'll interact with the wastegate exhausts and smaller winglets placed between the diffuser and underside of the crash structure, helping to tie in all of the flow structures to improve the cars balance.

McLaren MP4-31 rear wing detail Photo by: Giorgio Piola

During FP1, the team assessed both options, with Button using the new higher downforce configuration (below), whilst Alonso continued to use their usual specification (above).

McLaren MP4-31 rear wing detail Photo by: Giorgio Piola

You'll also note that temperature strips were placed on the inside of the monkey seat's endplates in order to assess the interaction of the exhaust plume.