Brown: the opening of a new era for McLaren!

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McLaren executive Zak Brown said there is no better way to mark the beginning of a new era for the iconic racing team than presenting a car with a complete new livery.

Following over a month of teasing tweets, the orange and black robe of McLaren's 2017 MCL32 is indeed all-new, but also a throwback to the team's historic roots, a wish apparently conveyed to McLaren by its fan-base..

"It's a bit of a new era for us," Brown said.

"Any great company has different chapters and our last one is an encyclopedia of success. We hit a little bit of the refresh button."

"The fans have been telling us what they want to see and we've responded to our millions of fans around the world.

"About 1000 people have put in effort to contribute to what this car looks like."

McLaren-Honda MCL32 revealed !

McLaren and engine partner Honda, which has designed an all-new power unit for the 2017 season, are looking for a substantial move up the ranks as the team ambitions to revive its former luster.

"We're very excited for the new year and Eric [Boullier] has built a great racing team," Brown added.

"We need to show that we're going faster and that we've got a chance of winning. A world championship is not far away.

"Fernando is loving it here and we love Fernando."

"McLaren has always been the team in Formula 1 for me, and I’m massively motivated to be able to help re-establish the team where I firmly believe it belongs: at the very pinnacle of Formula 1."

"What you see is where we're at. We're very happy with the executive team and the collective group. Ways of working, everyone is different. I like to walk the factory floor and say hi to the guys and gals every morning.

"The MTC [McLaren Technology Centre, its Woking HQ] is kind of like Star Wars, but we've maybe been a little bit too Darth Vader and need to be a little bit more Luke Skywalker."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.