Ecclestone pledged to deliver noisier cars after the race in Australia – which
he did not attend in person – but there are no obvious solutions being
suggested.
It has been proposed that the positioning of the microphones be changed to
pick up better the sound for television viewers, but Formula One Management
does not believe this will have a significant effect.
A meeting of the race promoters is planned for just over a week’s time before
the race in Bahrain, after organisers of the Australian event threatened to
sue for breach of contract. Ron Walker, who is also chairman of the Formula
One Promoters’ Association, claimed that the engine sound “will kill the
golden goose”.
Although Formula One is not yet in the grips of a crisis over the lack of
noise, it is an unhelpful start for FIA president Jean Todt’s new, more
environmentally friendly vision of the sport.
Motorsport’s governing body has been pushing the new agenda of fuel saving,
and it is one Ecclestone has always been against. Despite the criticism,
however, it is unlikely Renault
would have remained in the sport or that Honda would have returned with McLaren
for next year, if the old V8s had remained.
Vettel, the four-time reigning champion, went on to reminisce about how the
sound moved and inspired him when he was a child.
“We went to see the cars live in free practice in Germany, and the one thing I
remember was the sound,” he said.
“[I remember] how loud the cars were, and to feel the cars through the ground
as it was vibrating. It is a shame we don’t have that anymore.”
However, it is not all bad news for Todt, as the new 1.6-litre V6 turbos on
Thursday attracted the support of numerous drivers in the paddock.
Button, the 2009 world champion, and the most experienced driver on the grid,
was not aware of Vettel’s comments when he attended his press duties on
Thursday.
But he said it was time for drivers to stop whingeing about the new sound,
even if he preferred the higher-pitched roar of the V8s, and before that the
V10s, which were phased out from 2006.
“Go and race something else if you are not happy,” the 34 year-old said in the
wake of Vettel’s criticism.
“As drivers we don’t have an opinion of where the cars are in terms of sound
and feel.
“When you cross the finish line first you have won a grand prix. You don’t
care what it sounds like or what it looks like. You have beaten the best in
the world and that is all you care about.”
Button also said it was “awesome” that in Melbourne the cheer of the crowd as
Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line was audible, as he called on the sport to
“make the best” of the situation.
He was joined by Nico Rosberg, the dominant winner in Melbourne, who also
welcomed Formula One’s green revolution.
“I think it has been all good for F1,” the German said.
“It has changed the pecking order around, which is definitely good for
everybody.
“It was the same guy winning last year so it needed change. The cars are great
to drive, which is fine, so I think it is all good.”
Not to question Rosberg and Vettel’s sincerity, but it is amazing how a
driver’s view of a regulation is so often aligned to the relative
performance of their car.
As far as the fans are concerned, the reaction has been mixed, and warnings of
an imminent backlash appear premature.
A survey on Ferrari’s website, which simply asked the question, “Do you like
this new Formula One?” found nearly two-thirds of 14,000 respondents said
they did not.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Malaysian Airlines tragedy, it was announced on
Thursday that a tribute will be paid to the 239 passengers and crew who are
believed to have died in the disaster.
Out of respect for the victims on flight MH370, which departed for Beijing
just a few miles from the circuit in Sepang, a minute’s silence will be held
on the grid before the start of Sunday’s race. The Malaysian Prime Minister,
Najib Razak, is expected to be among those in attendance.