Kevin Magnussen is braced for a challenging new Formula 1 season but believes the rules overhaul in 2017 will lead to pulsating racing thanks to "driver's cars".

The sport's revamped technical regulations mean teams are preparing wider, more aggressive looking cars which will be up to five seconds per lap quicker than last year, with increased mechanical grip introduced to improve overtaking.

Changes for 2017

And while Magnussen believes it will be tougher than ever, he is looking forward to being freed from the shackles of a compromised style and claims drivers will be able to make the difference once again.

"If they are as fast as we all predict and hope for then it will be more of a driver's car that you can push," Haas's new recruit told Sky Sports News HQ.

"With the old cars and last year's cars it's been more a compromise. Your driving style was very compromised with tyres, limited grip and a lot of power, so a lot of wheel spin. [The 2017] cars will hopefully be more about finding the limit.

"It's hopefully going to be more of challenge to get the car to the limit and then the compromise will be less of a worry, That's my hope anyway. It's more enjoyable to drive a car that you really have to push hard and extract everything from rather than thinking all the time what is the right compromise."

Drivers in training for the new season

Magnussen, who has exchanged a war of words with Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul since leaving the Enstone team, is also expecting a grid "shake-up" and a more exciting championship battle after Mercedes' three years of dominance.

"Red Bull will be the big surprise," the Dane claimed. "So that should be interesting to have not only one team fighting for the wins. Hopefully Ferrari will be stronger as well."

All teams have been afforded a blank slate thanks to the rules refresh and are back in the factory ahead of next month's first pre-season test in Barcelona, which will give the first indication of the 2017 pecking order.

We catch up with Haas F1's new driver Kevin Magnussen to discuss his future and his turbulent exit from Renault We catch up with Haas F1's new driver Kevin Magnussen to discuss his future and his turbulent exit from Renault

Haas started the 2016 campaign, their first in F1, with an incredible 18 points in the first two races before struggling for consistency but Magnussen, who signed a multi-year contract with the US team, says improving as the season progresses will now be the aim.

"Our biggest challenge is going to be to extract everything and understand it properly because we are a small team and we don't have enough people yet to throw analysis on everything and get everything analysed," he added.

"So we will have to work really hard to try and get the most out of what we have, which I hope and think will be a good package."