Walker describes the engine sound as a “disgrace”, while he engages in a
slightly bizarre pantomime act with Ecclestone in which his threat to sue is
welcomed as totally credible and likely to succeed by F1’s octogenarian
ringmaster.
The story – which, I hear you say, appears almost planted – also warns of a
fans’ revolt over the issue. One may be forthcoming, but who and where is
this ‘fans’ revolt’ at the moment?
Anecdotally, from speaking to people in Melbourne, asking for opinions on
Twitter, and reading comments around the internet (the BBC’s Andrew Benson
has written a good piece on the subject, which elicited a wide variety of
responses), it would be difficult to argue that the new engines have been
universally welcomed.
But it is not hard to disprove the notion that Formula One has some kind of
mutiny on its hands.
(The idea that a ‘fans’ revolt’ is sufficient to precipitate a major change in
the regulations is also frankly laughable, given how the imposition of
double points is at odds with the view of the overwhelming majority of fans,
as well as drivers.)
First, let’s start with the negatives, and the source of the issue.
The rev limit has been reduced to 15,000rpm, but it is thought most of the
teams are not going beyond 12,000rpm to maximise fuel efficiency. Having a
turbo charger also mutes the sound to a degree, and the exhaust exits are
higher this year – mandated by the FIA – which means for television viewers
the engine note was not picked up by the microphones as well (it is thought
Formula One management are looking at where they position the microphones to
optimise the sound for television).
All this means F1 circuits are much eerier places than they were in the past.
Apart from making it easier for crusty hacks to work in a peaceful
environment, to some extent this does detract from the spectacle. Formula
One is an entertainment sport, after all.
But, as has been pointed out to me on Twitter, who is to say people want to go
to a race to be deafened? And even if they do, the spectacle has not been
irreparably damaged. If anything, the extra torque means the cars
accelerating out of corners will be a far more enlivening experience than
with the V8s.
For the first time in years, tyre squeal is audible from trackside, and under
braking there is a whole mixture of sounds which come with the different
energy recovery systems.
The fact of the matter is Ecclestone has always been implacably opposed to the
new engines from their very inception, and clearly hearing them has not
changed his mind (although he was not there in the flesh in Melbourne to
listen first hand).
But times change, and F1 needed to change. The pervading feeling at the moment
seems to be one of ambivalence. Given its form with double points, and not
to mention DRS, it should not be beyond the realms of the sport’s
capabilities to come up with an artificial solution if fans and promoters do
start turning their backs.
As ever, let us know what you think in the comments below, and we will try
to follow it up with a readers’ edition, summarising your points of view.