Hello folks, Will Buxton here. Corporate schill. FIA apologist. TV puppet. Whack job. Clueless hack. Fucking idiot. Or any one of the other tags I’ve had attached to me over the past fortnight for simply stating that I actually don’t mind the sound of the 2014 Formula 1 power units.
Frankly, I’m getting a little tired of the fact that at the beginning of one of the most technically fascinating and competitively open championships for a generation, all we seem to be doing is arguing about noise. But that is all it is. Noise. Wasted energy. Yours and mine. And the cars’.
I wasn’t going to write a blog on the topic because over the past week, it is all anyone has seemingly cared or written about. I have retweeted numerous articles whose opinions I have agreed with, and yet still people are either unwilling or unable to accept that I am genuine in my statements that these things sound pretty cool. And so I am writing this so as to be unequivocal.
Here are the facts as I see them.
The 2014 V6 Turbos are not as loud as the 2013 V8s.
The 2014 V6 Turbos are not as high pitched and thus are not as exciting to listen to as the 2013 V8s.
They sound crap on TV.
But, in the flesh they really do sound quite awesome. And they sound different depending on where you stand. You are going to get a different impression of these cars if you are standing in the middle of the straight where the cars are at full revs, to if you are in the braking zone and are experiencing the fascinating sound of the two MGUs kicking in. If you stand mid corner you will hear tyre screeching as the drivers scrabble for grip with the huge torque being produced. If you stand on corner exit, you’ll hear the growl of the engine and watch huge black lines being laid down, tyres screeching as the cars wheelspin up to 5th gear.
More torque, less grip
c/o James Moy Photography
I’ve had messages from people here in Sepang who said that after watching the Australian Grand Prix on TV, they were worried about how it would sound for real. But they’ve been pleasantly surprised. Even Bernie Ecclestone admitted to me yesterday on NBCSN that the cars sounded far better in the flesh than they had done on TV. As such I put it to him that this was by far and away the biggest problem and the one that needs resolving. It is down to his company to bring to the wider world the sounds that we are hearing trackside. That is easier said than done, but it is pivotal to making this new formula a success as 99% of the fans of this sport do not have that luxury of standing trackside as we do.
If you look back at the articles post Australia, there was an interesting division between those who came out positively in favour of the new engines and their sound and those that did not. I would say that the largest percentage of those in favour of the new engines were at the track and heard the engines for real. The vast majority of the doom-mongers were bloggers who had received their impression of the new engines through the TV.
Now obviously, I appreciate that not everyone gets to visit the races and what I have never said is that what you hear at home is not disappointing. I am well aware that it is. All I have said, from day one, is to please give it time because what you are getting through your TV set right now is not in any way representative of what these cars actually sound like.
The point has been made and rightfully so that without these new power units, we would be down to two engine manufacturers in Formula 1, maybe even just one, as Renault and possibly Mercedes would have left the sport. Honda would not be coming back. One engine manufacturer would have pushed Formula 1 closer towards being a spec championship and I don’t know anyone that wants that.
These new power units are not green. Formula 1 will never be green. But it must be road relevant to keep the manufacturers interested. No we’re not endurance racing, but efficiency is hugely important. And it always has been. Build an engine that is more efficient with your fuel, carry less fuel, have a lighter car, go faster. Build a car that is more efficient with its tyres, require fewer pit stops. This is simply a continuation and an evolution of a basic tenet of motor racing.
Fans cried for a return to the halcyon days of the Turbo era, with more power than grip and drivers having to fight their cars rather than just point the thing and hit the throttle. Well that is what we have. Revel in it. Revel in the majesty of the best drivers in the world having to actually DRIVE.
If the FIA is to be believed, the future of motor racing is Formula E. Compared to that, the 2014 F1 power units are fire breathing, lung busting, animalistic growling monstrosities. Perhaps we should be thankful for what we’ve got.
The fact is, this IS what we’ve got. It isn’t going to change. The sport had to move forward and while V8s were all well and good, they were old technology and outdated. I liked the sound of a Cosworth DFV, but you place that alongside a 2014 F1 power unit and its like comparing Stephenson’s rocket with NASA’s Orion Spacecraft. Times change.
There have been suggestions that the teams are listening to the opinions of the fans and are worried about the negative response to the new sound. But from the comments I have received it seems there is a definite and clear divide. I’d say 40% like it and 40% hate it, while 20% remain unsure. Meanwhile, I’d estimate close to 95% of fans hate the idea of double points races, and yet the teams didn’t see fit to budge on that one.
What does not help is having an F1 team boss standing on the pitwall proclaiming “This is not Formula 1.” Because it is. This is how it is. He had a chance to influence the way this sport was going technically, and if he or his team failed then they have nobody to blame but themselves.
Mr E has been critical of the new power units
c/o James Moy Photography
What does not help is having the commercial rights holder come out so negatively before he has heard the cars in person, because while his backtracking this weekend is commendable, the damage has already been done.
What does not help is having the reigning world champion decrying the new engines as “shit.” A case of placing the sport in disrepute under Article 151c? Arguably. The last driver to say F1 rules were “shit” was Jacques Villeneuve and he was threatened with suspension. And would Sebastian even have dreamt of saying such negative things if his engine was powering him to pole positions and victories?
What does not help is having people sat at home, writing with supposed and, via the weight we give online media, unquestioned authority about how these engines sound in the flesh when they have only heard them through their TV.
So call me a hack. Call me a schill. Call me an annoying fanboy sycophant (After 13 years as a journalist and broadcaster in this industry, I think I like this one the best.) I’ve been called far worse. Fernando Alonso has said he’s not going to wade into the discussion as he knows he’ll get slammed from either side no matter what he says. Such is the wonder of social media.
But please, just give this new Formula time. The sound will improve, the way it is relayed to you at home will improve. And when it does, hopefully you will appreciate this new technology for what it is. An exciting new beginning for a sport that had to evolve.
The Buxton Blog 
Great blog Buxton. I have faith that the issue will be sorted out for the television viewers, but I honestly don’t mind it THAT MUCH. But, I cannot wait until Austin GP to hear for myself. Only then, can I make a final judgement.
Thanks for the read
Thanks you for saying all that you did. I completely agree and am amazed at the negative comments. You said it perfectly.
First, the sound. I don’t understand the complaints. They sound deep, throaty, tough. They have massive torque, more tough.
Of course, I loved the f1 distinct scream of the v8, but different doesn’t mean it’s one or the other. You can believe they’d both sound great even if they are different.
F1 is about being cutting edge.it has to be about technology combined with great racers. Being the ultimate non spec racing series is what makes it stand out. That’s its nitch and it shouldn’t lose that. These engines are complex, nasa on the race track and I love it.
In talks with family and friends I mentioned the fact that I spent the whole weekend in Austin 2013 without my earplugs. I knew then I was saying goodbye to a sound that hooked me since my very first time. I remember how my heart raced. I remember looking to a friend and trying to hear him screaming and yet, that incredible sound was all that I could hear. I remember at the start that I felt all the engines dictating how my blood was rushing thru my veins at that moment.
It is gone. Period.
As someone that has always been nostalgic, I’m sure I’ll keep remembering that moment forever.
And that by no way means that I’ll stop watching F1 or that I believe that it’s going to stop changing. Change, as unwelcoming as it might be at times, is a constant.
And I truly hope F1 keeps changing and adapting its ways into staying current enough that it never dies. Anyone that heard those “sounds” of those “formula” E cars in Vegas can relate. Listen to the videos and let’s rank them 😉
But for people that heard the new engines live, I have an important question: how do they compare to Indy cars?
Because I’ve been on the brickyard line for the green on the Indy500, and no, Indycars sound like nothing F1, and that incredible wall of sound moving towards you when the green flag drops is nothing short of a skipped heartbeat – if you can still feel anything in your body other than those cars, that is. They sound much better live, but they do sound ‘quieter’ on TV, and it’s a little disappointing after a live event.
So, can someone compare to a relatable noise?
Great points, Will. I have only heard the engines via TV….hopefully one day I’ll hear them on the flesh. I agree with you: Let’s enjoy the racing, because it is shaping to be an awesome season!
spot on Will. I really appreciate your candor and willingness to stick your neck out. I have been blogging up a storm about the sound and i keep coming back to the same old line. get over it people it is still racing it is not the noise that matters it’s the RACING!!!
this post reminds me of the one last year when you had to remind everyone why they should like the racing post the Spanish GP during the whole Pirelli tire issue. You were spont on then as well.
Keep it up.
PS Awesome segment with B.Ecclestone and taking him to task…
-jp-
When I heard Vettel say that my immediate thought was that they should be the perfect engines for him then. Considering the entertainment value he has added to sport he does not speak with any authority.
Maybe in the future people can accept the fact that it’s actually OK for the road car industry and the ‘racing industry’ (specifically F1) to have divergent ends.
With the former being about safety, sustainability/efficiency/sterility through technology etc., and the later reflecting the more superfluous – sport, art, danger, and visceral spectacle. Noise is not wasted if it stirs the soul…
If Formula 1 has to slink ‘backwards’ once again and become more the domain of specialists, dreamers and obsessives (losing the interest of the the big manufacturers in the process) then I would actually welcome it. Technology has long outstripped human capacities in some areas (we have self driving cars, and collision detection systems – this the direction of the road car industry.) It’s always going to be a balancing act from this point forward….
These are not the views of grouchy dinosaurs (as Will would suggest) but more a reflection human passion (old and young) in the face of this rather obvious corporate greenwash facade.
Beautifully said.
It’s not the people who decide. It’s the builders who will chose to provide and develop the technology only if ultimately they see any business opportunities by investing in it.
i agree 100% with your point of view, but this:
“I would say that the largest percentage of those in favour of the new engines were at the track and heard the engines for real. The vast majority of the doom-mongers were bloggers who had received their impression of the new engines through the TV.”
comes across as a little arrogant. the vast majority of f1 fans don’t attend every race. in fact, i’d wager that the vast majority of fans don’t get to even a SINGLE race each season. so championing how they sound in the flesh, and off-handedly dismissing the views of those watching via tv, isn’t a good idea. tv rights is one of the biggest sources of money into the sport, so it’s a little foolish to rubbish the views of the television audience.
If you read the whole thing again, I remark that 99% of the world will only ever witness it on TV and that is why it is crucial we get the TV reproduction of the sound correct. My point referred to the damaging opinions of some bloggers whose only experience of the sound comes from TV. The issue is that they can and have played such a huge role in influencing the negative opinions of those who, just like them, have only experienced it through TV. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, all I am trying to say is that the engines don’t sound quite as terrible in real life and hopefully the real sound will soon be replicated in your living room.
but surely until (or indeed if) the sound is replicated, there is a legitimate concern? that comment in particular just seemed overly dismissive, and had a faint whiff of old media versus new media (which given this is on a blog and your excellent twitter game might seem a ridiculous allegation, but you are sort of straddling the boundary by also being on tv).
like i said, i agree with you 100%, but i had friends who were complaining during qualy and the race about the sound, who weren’t listening to any bloggers or anything that wasn’t broadcast on tv. they’re not budging in their view at this point in time…
If I could suggest that in future you read the whole article before replying. It would prevent you writing a reply that misses the whole point!
i didn’t get my point across as well as i should have. sorry.
My father passed away in September and one of his favorite things to do was to turn the stereo on and listen to the “mosquitoes”. Excellent post as always Will! Dad always wanted to take me to a race in person since he got to see them back when they were racing in Mexico City, so I hope to get to experience the engines live!
I’m a fan. Always will be. It’s F1. To many people are against change. I see it as a new era of the sport. Look forward to the racing. That’s what’s it’s all about.
G piece Will. For a fucking hack you always do a great job of representing the fan perspective and talk a lot of common sense.
The sound was different between TV and at the circuit with the old engines. Much better at the circuit. The scream of the V8 in the early morning P1 was always shocking and exciting and a reminder of the raw brutality of the machinery. But less volume would be fine by me and I won’t have to worry as much about my my 9 year old’s hearing. Am I the only one that thinks that the TV sound of the new engines is better? I also love hearing the tire squeal and imagine that watching from a corner will have a new dimension this year.
As usual Vettel is a whiner when things aren’t going his way. All the garbage written last season about what a great character he is – humble, funny, professional, positive….it’s very different when he feels under pressure. He’s not going to be charged for bringing the sport into disrepute, but he’s not going to endear himself to fans with this spoilt kid behavior.
They sound like crap on TV. 99.9% of people watch on TV. Do the math.
Did you read the article? Will said they had to fix the TV sound.
Learn to read.
The v8s also sounded crap at some places, such as Malaysia and China where the microphones were so far away from the cars all you heard was resonance.
Will,
We’ve heard a lot of journalists ask Bernie about the noise this weekend – yourself, Sky, BBC, amongst other broadcasters. Which is fair enough. But I’ve not heard one question directed to Bernie about double points. Again, this feels to me like the fans voice is being heard, or even worse, journalists are being gagged and are banned from asking Bernie that question in front of the camera.
When I read this: “There have been suggestions that the teams are listening to the opinions of the fans and are worried about the negative response to the new sound. But from the comments I have received it seems there is a definite and clear divide. I’d say 40% like it and 40% hate it, while 20% remain unsure. Meanwhile, I’d estimate close to 95% of fans hate the idea of double points races, and yet the teams didn’t see fit to budge on that one.”
Why has no one tried to directly challenge Bernie about this? It’s all good BBC and Sky asking him about the noise, but really people in the paddock should be asking him about double points on camera, in my opinion instead. Stick to one question about the sound and then one about double points.
PS – I haven’t seen the NBC piece with Bernie, but from watching BBC and Sky you get the impression that double points was not on their radar yesterday and today when challenging Bernie.
Well said sir, it is a shame Ecclestone can’t put his considerable skills as a salesmen and his PR machine into selling whats good about the new Formula. If he’s saying its beyond his abilities to convince the supposedly unhappy promoters about the good points of this new era (we’ve only heard from his mate Walker) then its definitely time for Mr E to move over. F1 is and always has been about progress and quieter more efficient race-cars are an inescapable inevitability of the future. Yes its a shame the noise element isn’t as goose-bump inducing as it used to be, but why can’t people just enjoy whats different about it, because as Will says there is plenty more going on behind the wheel now and its great for the drivers to be challenged again. For the fans who think the only good thing about F1 was the noise then perhaps they should think about attending something nice and noisy and full of cutting edge tech, perhaps Tractor Pulling?
Excellent insights as usual Buxton. I’m glad a young man such as yourself with the energy to bound around the pits and the track also has the wisdom to see this for what it is. The sound will improve on TV. It’s one race. Give it time, constant refinement is the name of the game in F1 and this too shall pass. As for the technical aspects, with memories of the heavenly sounds of the 80’s 1.5L V6 turbos compared to the new ones I suspect the major difference (ERS influences aside) is the mandate that the exhaust exit completely at the rear. This requires piping from the turbo to that point where the 80’s cars had 2 individual exits right at the turbos. That bit of piping can have a huge influence on exhaust note and I suspect that is where the majority of the undesired effect is coming from. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
Interesting article and some great points. It’s just sad for us fans who don’t have the money to go to a F1 race. I have been following F1 since 1990 and never been financially able to attend a race. All I have to experience the thrill of F1 is my imagination of what the atmosphere must be like and what I can visually see and hear through My Television.
I’ve gotten on towards old, and my hearing is not as good as it was before 8 years of working in a noisy environment. My problem with the V-8s was I found the noise covering up the TV commentary (especially yours, Will), and now, NOW, I can hear the commentary. So, I love it! Now if engine noise is the big draw, then Formula E is destined for failure, big time failure, with rapid onset.
Yeah, I too think double points for the last race is a rotten idea.
Bernie…I’m guessing many of his controversial pronouncements could be due to creating distractions from thinking about his upcoming trial(s).
For a fucking shill, that was great article. If the racing is good who will care what they sound like. However, if the season really does turn into a giant economy run with drivers saving fuel to get to the end of the race, all bets are off. F1 will have more problems than just noise.
No one ever complains about the economy runs of the great turbo era in the 80s, mainly because we never knew it was going on! Proper Grand Prix racing isn’t a series of sprint races, it’s a long endurance event with the driver having to manage reliability, tyres, fuel etc.
Take San Marino in ’85. A very exiting end to a fuel limited race, or any of the classic races in the 60s where reliability was a major consideration.
Ban driver radio I say and let them sort it out on their own.
What I want is suspense to the end, not to know who’s going to win after the first lap 🙂
Another excellent post, Will. Your ability to sum up a situation and lay it out for us fans to digest is always remarkable (at least to me.) Don’t let the bastards get you down!
When can we expect an F1 book from you? I’m ready to pre-order.
As much as I like Steve Matchett, he was wrong to say that F1 should not try to pretend to be green. He’s missing the point—the cars are not attempting to be green unto themselves; the manufactures are trying to fast track the development of green technology to pass on to their road cars…something altogether different.
PS—Next time you see Vettel, tell him that an F1 fan from Hawaii suggests that people would like him more if he’d stop flashing that annoying digit every time he wins!
Totally agree Will. We have a great sport, with the best tech in the world and good competition again with new teams in the mix and by Bahrain, I think we’ll see qualifying times that are as fast as 2013 so the cars will eventually be faster. I wish people would pay attention to all the great things going on with Formula 1 and stop complaining about every little thing.
We’ve been told time and again that if they didn’t change the formula, the only engine supplier staying in the F1 was probably going to be Ferrari. Do people prefer a spec series with louder engines? You can watch Indycar for that.
This if F1. It changes and the engineers find ways to overcome and claw back time. It’s what F1 do.
I’m reserving judgement until I’ve heard the 2014 cars ‘in the flesh’. However, I do think F1 needs to be a bit careful here. There are many race goers that aren’t F1 obsessives like us.
Just as an illustration, I was at the first Singapore GP in 2008 and I remember the place was full of first time race go’ers who’d never seen or heard an F1 car before. Most knew little or nothing about the sport, had never heard of the drivers and weren’t particularly interested in the race result. They were just there for the spectacle and a good night out. I vividly remember the look of sheer astonishment on their faces when the cars first blasted past at close quarters. It was the noise that was the main talking point and it was the noise that provided the wow factor. F1 really needs to keep those kind of people coming back.
Bernie isn’t usually overly concerned with the fan experience but he does know his business. The fact that he’s spending time on this subject means he genuinely thinks there could be an affect on race attendance and his hosting fees. I guess time will tell, but we shouldn’t dismiss the idea that there might be a problem.
Spot on Tim.
I’d argue he doesn’t know his business any more as he’s continually ignored “new” media as a way to engage with fans because he doesn’t understand it.
Will, though to me it’s tragic to see the sound I loved consigned to the Boss formula, my complaint is not with the new sound per se, but what it represents. Love it or hate it, the new sound is an artifact of (among other things) prescribed cylinder counts, artificial rev limits, and even more artificial fuel-flow limits – all in the name of increased efficiency.
And (assuming that this really isn’t you being an annoying fanboy sycophant) this is where you and I differ: To me, this is NOT Formula 1. In this fan’s opinion, Formula 1 should be about speed, and only speed (aside, perhaps, from a few compromises in the name of safety). Fuel conservation by decree is NOT another natural step in the quest for improved efficiency. If the teams decided on their own that 12,000 rev shift points are the fastest way to cover 300km, I would shed a tear for the old V8’s and move on. But you know that isn’t what happened.
If the manufacturers need better fuel economy to provide political cover or to help with the development of the next Prius, then personally, I’d rather see F1 move on without them. I doubt we’d end up with a de facto spec engine (I’m sure Cosworth and Hart – RIP Brian – and maybe others would return, and their return could easily be subsidized with a sliver of CVC’s dividend). But even if we did, I’d take a field full of thirsty Ferrari engines over a dozen electric motors any day.
If the FIA is right that Formula E is motorsport’s future, than motorsport’s future will be short.
And by the way, I think your synthesis is wrong. I haven’t been to a race yet, and will reserve judgment until I’ve heard them from myself. But most of the comments I’ve read from fans that attended Melbourne have not been flattering. Perhaps they’re just the outspoken ones, and in any event, you’re right that it’s far from unanimous. But I don’t think the divide is who’s-heard-it, who-hasn’t as you describe.
All valid points and I am absolutely with you. F1 should be speed. But how amazing is it that the engine manufacturers have lost 2 cylinders, 0.8 litres of capacity, are fuel and rev restricted but the cars are FASTER in a straight line. 19kph faster in testing at Bahrain. Laptimes are slower because these things are producing so much torque and downforce has been reduced so much that it’s hard to get the power down. I think that’s pretty awesome.
Absolutely incredible what the engineers have done, and that part is pure F1 poetry. But of course my complaint is not with them, it’s with the rulemakers and the box they’ve put the engineers in. Not the box this fan asked for.
Two asides:
1) My favorite part of this year (so far) is watching the cars squirm under power – they’re a little less fun to watch at entry now (in my opinion) but I love the new premium on the right boot. You and I are definitely on the same page on that one.
2) I really appreciate your engagement (at some un-Godly hour too, if I’m not mistaken). Your passion is infectious, and our sport is better for it. Thank you.
I like your stance and am glad you’re sticking to it. I agree wholeheartedly.
Great post as usual, Will. I think that Bernie did NOT do F1 much of a favor by, very early, imprinting in our minds the issue of the sound of the engines. Is he for us or against us? RACING is so much more than sound. Consider what a race driver has in his/her mind before practice, qualifying, race; does it involve the sound?? What we, as aficionados (sp?) need to consider is what it is like to compete, at the highest level of motorsport, with technical competence dictated by the formula. I have heard the engines on TV — so what? The drivers and the teams have stepped up, and here is their response. I choose to accept that and move on — what do the constructors and drivers do with the challenge that is before them; that is what really counts in competition. Can CART, or whatever it’s called these days, compare? Can’t WAIT for COTA this year; I will, as is my tradition (much like my custom at hard-core punk shows), remove the ear plugs to experience the sound , un-muffled, of the EXTREME of motorsports at this moment in history. If you do the same, you will be able to be a witness to the history of one of the most exciting experiences of the early 21st Century. DIG IT!
Reblogged this on Paul Harman's Weblog and commented:
Amen
I will miss the excitement of hearing the shriek of the cars as we drive to COTA, but will not pass judgment until I hear the new units in person. I suppose it will be much different, but I can enjoy different race sounds without disappointment. Good blog, my friend. Your relevant comments and outstanding reporting keep us in the know and plugged in. Cheers!
I absolutely agree and I’ve been saying most of these things to everyone who has been complaining since Australia. And I haven’t been to any 2014 race yet! Spot-on Will.
I did attend the first race in Australia, and watched the Malaysian Grand Prix on TV and can honestly say that I did not like the sound of the engines at either race. In Australia, I sat in the Piquet stand at turn 3 and so heard the power units kicking in (the Caterham car sounded truly horrible) and also stood alongside the main straight when they were flat out. Everyone I talked to in the stand in Australia, and everyone on the trams to and from the race were complaining about the sound. I agree that F1 has to change and move on, and the technology underlying these cars is truly outstanding, but that does not change the fact that the sound has changed, and it is not for the better. I attended F1 races in the old turbo era, the V12/V10/V8 era, and now the new turbo era, and I prefer the sound of big normally aspirated engines. The Australian V8 support races sounded great. I agree that people will get used to the sound, and later in the season we will probably not even be talking about it, but the old engines (that you could feel in your chest as much as hear) generated real excitement in both old and new fans. These engines do not do the same, and I fear this will have an impact on attendance at the track.
Mike
Will, I agree. I started watching Formula 1 in the 70’s(when it was on TV, which wasn’t much). I did so because it is the most technically advanced race series out there. The engine and aerodynamics packages are 2nd to known (in my opinion). So this change to the new power unit is as you stated, the most exciting change seen in decades. I have not heard the new sound in person, but I will get to when they race in Austin. All the teams will engineer through this and once on the other side of it, we as fans should see some spectacular racing. People dislike change. Its new, different! Not knowing what to expect. But I believe over the coming years we will all adapt and continue to enjoy Formula 1 racing!
Totally agree with your thoughts about the engines. I feel people are being insanely childish about it. I didn’t know racing was all about how loud something was. Of course the sounds and visions and smells all play huge rules in our perception and how much we enjoy something like a F1 race. But I didn’t know the reason people tuned in was to listen to something so loud that it will damage their ears. I want to see good racing. I want to see a decently level field and people fighting it out at each corner. Not every race has to be like that but as a racing fan I thought we wanted to see good races. Isn’t that priority number one? You would swear by all the comments you hear all over the internet that 10 million people were in attendance at Australia and Malaysia. The tires sucks, the noses suck, the engines sucks, I’m starting to think that just a lot of the fans suck.
Great piece Will! I am so tired of the cynical, whiny stuff being written right now. You hit the nail on the head and if a person can’t appreciate what this new formula has brought, they should stop following the sport.
You Sir are a breath of fresh air , keep up the good work
I agree with you Will. I was trackside for FP3 and quali in Melbourne and the sound was much better than I was expecting. Hearing the energy recovery gubbins whirring away is pretty cool. Also pleasing is that all the manufacturers’ engines sound different and you can even pick up differences between teams with the same engine when you’re at the circuit (note: Mercedes v Williams for example).
I watched the race in a pub which wasn’t the best place to judge the sound. When I got around to watching the replays I was pleasantly surprised by how good the cars sounded on TV too.
We all know the normally aspirated V8s sounded better, that’s not up for debate.
But F1 is better for these changes, for the reasons you have outlined above, you don’t need me going over them again. Suffice to say it is awesome to see drivers battling with their cars as they fight for traction through corners and while some of that may be due to less downforce the drivers themselves are saying the huge torque on offer is making them work harder.
This is excellent for F1.
I think the controversy over the sound has been blown totally out of proportion. I also think the loss of excitement from the screaming NA engines is a worthwhile price to pay for the added benefits the V6 power unit era has brought.
I am hoping the racing will improve. The first two races technologically was awesome. The cars finished at a much higher rate than many were expecting.
The racing itself in the first two races was not that exciting. Why are cars not getting as much benefit this year with the DRS? There seems to be less passing. I hope the racing improves.
Yes, the new F1 cars are technological marvels. Yes, yes, yes… But what does that have to do with the fact they sound like crap on TV? Sorry, but they don’t sound good at all. What to do? Well, the half-billion-or-whatever TV viewers out there aren’t suddenly going to start showing up at the races to hear this “marvelous” sound. I watched part of the IndyCar race this weekend – on TV of course – and they sound a lot better than these F1 marvels…
So, yes, count me in the “complaining” category but only of the sound.
This is how you approach a topic when your sport is in a spot of bother. The best sportscar journos have written some great articles on the plight of United Sportscar. This is the best article I have read by a credentialed F1 journo one of the main issues facing F1. Thanks for the article!
Thanks Will. I was waiting for your take on this with bated breath. As usual, you nailed it.
Ultimately, your choices are: stick around and let it grow on you – or hit the road. It is what it is.
Sure, I remember the gut rumbling sensation of the Ferrari V12s at Indianapolis in 2000. That’s a sensation I will never forget, but times change and F1 moves on. So must we.
If the teams are really concerned with listening to fans, they should ignore the noise issue for now which is probably a 50/50 split, and focus on the LAST-RACE-SUPER-MEGA-ROLLOVER-JACKPOT-DOUBLE-POINTS-BONUS farce which I haven’t seen any fan saying is a good idea.
Thank you for that Will. what i find strange is that when Turbo’s came in in the 1980s – i don’t remember anyone on TV or fans at the track complaining about the noise, There was a lot of fuss made about how they failed all the time but complaints about the noise is not something i remember. I was working in the press office at Brands Hatch at that time and would have remembered. Now thew the residents of West Kingsdown often complained about the noise of F1 at Brands, maybe F1 can return to its real British home now that it is so quiet.
Good blog Will but I’m also not impressed by the new PC Formula 1. There is surely something wrong when the GP2 feeder series is more exciting, looks better and sounds better than F1. And seemingly as fast! As for live races I’ve been going since 1993 and sound IS important even when you’re there. The starts with the V8s when you could feel it vibrating through the grandstand and into your feet is indescribeable and unforgettable. This is the first year I’m not actually bothered about going to see a live race. I like my motorsport to take my breathe away. This is just my opinion and I’m sure the technology is very impressive but I do like a wow factor with my motor racing. Oh well, there’s always Goodwood!
A great article, although it seems Bernie and co might be getting their way. Over the course if the weekend I watched recordings of the F1, Indycar and BTCC. Something that struck me was that the 2 series with cars that are quieter (BTCC & IndyCar) had a much better audio track, drawing me to the conclusion that the problem isn’t the cars or engines but the FOM sound engineers.
“So call me a hack. Call me a schill. Call me an annoying fanboy sycophant (After 13 years as a journalist and broadcaster in this industry, I think I like this one the best.)”
You’re worse than Gay Cannibal Hitler.
I fully admit that I vastly prefer the scream of the V8s and V10s and yes, the turbos do sound like utter crap on TV (they don’t even sound *fast*), but if these sixes can give us the racing that we got in Bahrain, and completely bork the Red Bull dominance, I’ll take it and work through my loss.
It doesn’t really matter what the engines sound like if you watch NBCSN. They broadcast in some kind of matrixed Lt Rt stereo. Sucks. They did it all last season also.
I disagree. Last year I could rarely understand Will in the pits because of the engine noise, and the commentators also got drowned out be the noise too often. Not happening this year, and I appreciate it.