© Giorgio Piola

McLaren MP4-30 - Honda’s upgraded power unit Finally in the United States we got to see the shape of the engine exhausts on Honda’s improved power unit, introduced at the previous Grand Prix in Russia and tested again by Fernando Alonso in Texas (team mate Jenson Button hopes to have the update in Mexico). No longer are the exhausts all included in one short collector manifold (bottom arrow). Instead they now have a more standard layout (top arrow) in order to improve the engine’s power curve.

© Giorgio Piola

Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid - engine cover updates In Austin Mercedes introduced two ‘ears’ on the side of the airbox (top arrow and left inset) to improve the cooling of the car’s Energy Recovery System (ERS). This will allow the team to run its MGU-H at higher revs in Mexico, in order to combat the negative effects of altitude - Mexico City is over 2,200m above sea level - on engine power. There was also a change to the lower part of the engine cover, with the pronounced bonded section (bottom arrow) covering the ERS cooler removed, thanks to the cooler now being narrower but higher.

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McLaren MP4-30 - rear floor slots McLaren have followed Ferrari’s lead (inset shows the Italian team’s solution) and introduced multiple slots in the floor in front of the rear wheels. This is in order to reduce the negative influence of turbulence in this area of the car, improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the rear diffuser and thus boosting downforce.

© Giorgio Piola