Just the fact that the join between the (red) sidepods and (black) exhaust housing has gone from a curved joint to a straight one shows that there has been change. From what we can see, I agree that the exhaust is now closer to the driver than before - you can see it in relation to the bodywork - the slot (for want of a better word) that channels the gases now appears wider and more open towards its outward edge, and there is an extra cooling vent on the outside of the acer duct (if we can still call them that).
I wonder if that additional cooling vent is there to try to prevent the exhaust gases from diffusing outwards too much? Someone who understands these things better may want to correct this, but my thought is that, since the slot on the exhaust now seems pointed further towards the rear tyres, the hot air from the cooling may be being used to help contain it within that path? That's just an uneducated speculation, however...