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McLaren to run redesigned Honda engine in 2017 season

Team's technical director believes technical overhaul gives McLaren-Honda a great chance to "rise to the top again"

McLaren-Honda have confirmed their 2017 challenger will feature a completely restructured engine as they look to return to the front of the grid this season.

Honda's power unit has attracted criticism following their return to the sport two years ago, with McLaren finishing ninth and sixth in the Constructors' Championship since then.

There is renewed hope ahead of 2017's technical overhaul, however, with the end of Formula 1's engine token system giving all teams a chance to redesign and potentially catch Mercedes.

"For 2017, the Honda engine architecture and layout have been altered to serve both for performance and packaging needs," said McLaren-Honda technical director Tim Goss on the team's official website.

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"The new power unit takes much of the learning from the past two seasons, but has been specifically redesigned for this season."

Goss is therefore confident that the eight-time champions can "rise to the top" again.

"This season's changes rank as some of the most significant we've ever had in the sport," he explained. "That's likely to change the competition order - because it's such a big disturbance.

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"Historically, that has changed the order - but then what normally happens is that the best, and most well-equipped, teams tend to rise to the top again."

The extensive regulation changes also means the cars will also be more aesthetically pleasing, with the technical chief impressed with just how aggressive they look.

"These 2017 cars are lower and squatter; they just look meaner," Goss added. "The lower rear-wing, big fat tyres and big diffuser look cool - they look mean."

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