This change forms part of Renault's revised aero package for Barcelona. The upper profile now sports a semicircular central section (circled), which has increased the gap between it and the top of the R28's nose. This helps to reduce any blockage of airflow in this area and also means the depth of the upper profile's outer extremities can be increased, producing a more relevant downforce load without increasing the flap angle. This solution is particularly effective on long straights where top speed is important, but also works well on twisty track sections, where front-end sharpness is paramount.
Renault R28 - engine cover shark fin
Renault have also included a heavily revised engine cover as part of their pre-Spanish Grand Prix aero updates. This full-height shark fin profile (circled) is almost identical to the one introduced by Red Bull before the season's opening race. This revision has been made to improve the car's rear-end efficiency and balance, and improve its straight-line stability at high speeds. This addition, according to a Renault engineer, is not just for the Barcelona race but will be used for the season's remaining races, albeit with ongoing development changes.
