McLaren's Zak Brown: 2017 Formula 1 cars will look 'meaner'

This year's overhaul of the regulations means the much faster 2017 cars will use wider tyres and feature significantly enhanced aerodynamics.

"The cars are going to be faster and I hope the racing is better and closer," said Brown at Autosport International, which he opened on Thursday morning.

"Anytime you get a rules shake-up, it means there will be someone will get it more right than anticipated and someone will get it more wrong than anticipated.

"The cars are going to be very fast, they look great and they are going to look meaner with these bigger and wider wings."

Several teams have announced launches, with Renault currently the first to unveil on February 21, ahead of the cars making their track debut in pre-season testing on February 27.

Brown said McLaren had yet to lock-down a launch date but the staff at the McLaren Technology Centre have been given a glimpse of its 2017 challenger.

"We're working on the launch date right now," he said. "It's going to be right before the Spain test, so late February.

"We've shown it to the guys and girls at McLaren and we're very excited for our future.

"We've just signed off on the car livery and I think the fans will be excited to find out what the car looks like both technically and visually."

McLaren finished a disappointing ninth in the constructors' championship in 2015 after a tough first year back working with Honda.

But improvements in reliability and performance for the Japanese manufacturer during the 2016 campaign, coupled with a strong chassis, enabled the alliance to fight towards the front of the midfield and improve to sixth.

Brown is targeting a similar step this season.

"Everyone is working well together and pushing hard," he said.

"2015 was a pretty painful year for the team.

"2016 was a good step forward, but still not where you would expect McLaren to be.

"So if we can make that step from 15 to 16, 16 to 17, I think we're heading in the right direction."

LIBERTY WILL 'DO WHAT FANS WANT'

Liberty Media is edging closer to taking control of F1, with the FIA set to discuss the matter at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council next week.

Brown believes F1 needs to be brought closer to the fans and thinks the American company's arrival will aid that.

"One of the things we need to do is get the fans closer to the cars," he said.

"I spent a lot of time with Liberty and I think they are going to lead with 'what does the fan want?'

"F1 is a little guilty of 'what do we want?'

"We need to understand our audience is the fans."