McLaren will race in a Formula 1 livery that is "not traditional" in 2017, with executive director Zak Brown hinting that the team could be set to return to its orange roots in some regard.
McLaren raced with papaya-liveried cars in Can-Am and in F1 from 1968 to 1971, and last tested in orange in 2006 before adopting a chrome design for the remainder of the year.
However, Brown has confirmed that the team is poised to change direction with its livery after sticking to a predominantly black design for the past two seasons following the arrival of power unit partner Honda, hinting that orange could be incorporated.
"You’ll see some livery changes," Brown confirmed to this writer at Autosport International last weekend.
"I think everyone’s gonna like the race car. It’s cool."
When asked if the livery was traditional, Brown said: "It’s not traditional. Well, it depends what you define as traditional…
"If there’s some orange in it, you’ll be happy."
McLaren will unveil its new car on February 24, with Brown confirming that the team will continue its naming pattern despite Ron Dennis' departure as chairman.
Dennis brought the MP4 name to McLaren in 1981, standing for 'Marlboro Project 4' and later 'McLaren Project 4', but the 2017 car is still set to be called the MP4-32.
When asked by this writer if there would be a deviation from the MP4 name, Brown said: "I think we’’re going to stay where we are."
