McLaren were testing at several venues for the last testing week before Australia. At Silverstone they ran two race cars for both development and pre-race shakedowns. Several new aero parts were evident and the team kept a high level of secrecy opening the shutters only to let the car come and go.

Most notable was the new front wing, eschewing the "W" format profile for a deeply curved three element wing. This now mounts more conventionally with drop plates and no longer are the flaps split by the nosecone. New endplates followed the concept seen on the MP4-19 launch car with more span under the wing than over it.

The old nose was in use and will be taken to Melbourne. From this rare rear view, the way the raised mid span of the wing is split by the nose tip is evident. With the underside of the flap matching the curvature of the nose. Simpler endplates have been adopted on this wing since its launch.

Also new and step towards an old format were three vane bargeboards, the initial MP4-17 used a mid placed bargeboard with an intermediate vane between it and the keel mounted vane. The new set up uses a small intermediate vane connected to the main bargeboard.

Whenever the McLaren returned to the pits an mechanic stood by with a fire extinguisher at the rear for bodywork fires. Meanwhile at the front a persistent trail of smoke emerged from the right front brake duct, leading to mechanic shooting a compressed air line into the duct to keep the brakes cooled.