You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Formula 1 chief, Stefano Domenicali, had received a blow to the head last week.
Nothing serious, of course, but enough to precipitate a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree U-turn from F1’s earlier position on normally aspirated engines.
Apparently, he feels that F1 is missing the roar of big Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) and that the wimpy sound emanating from the current V6 hybrids just doesn’t cut it; something that the likes of Bernie Ecclestone, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and just about every pre-Drive to SurviveF1 fan have been saying since the inception of the current hybrid power mills.
Sounds of time past
I feel sorry for those who have not heard live the scream of a Ferrari V12 or the V10s so popular in the late nineties and early “noughties”. In his younger days, a cousin of mine was moved to record (audio) the F1 engines at different corners, during practice for the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch.
He was successful in capturing a Ferrari, Matra and Alfa Romeo V12 on tape and reckoned that if you shut your eyes, stuck the speaker to your ear and turned the volume up to full, it was almost equal to listening to the real thing!
It’s my party…
Unfortunately, he also recorded a party music mix on the’ B’ side of the same cassette tape. Said tape was being played at his shindig when the B side came to an end. A helpful friend then decided to switch it over to the A-side. The revelers were initially stunned into silence by the sound of F1 cars approaching, passing, and disappearing into the distance. However, the roar of laughter that then followed superseded that of the cars’ engines.
His only chance to avoid embarrassment was to claim that his brother had made the recording. Unfortunately, this avenue of escape was excluded when his voice joined in the cacophony, commenting on the engine and the corner he was standing at the time! Certain “friends” then ensured he was unable to get to the stereo system to ensure all present could enjoy the sound… tears in their eyes!
Noise communicates power
The point of the story, though, remains that pre-hybrid, the sound of a normally aspirated race engine was intrinsic to the F1 experience when trackside. It wasn’t the speed of the cars but the sound that provided the shock and awe. In fact, before the advent of giant TV screens and phone apps, it was the main dish when the race settled down and became more processional.
So who wants what?
The sudden change in idea seems to follow Christian Horner’s and Max Verstappen’s recent announcement. Both stated that the new engine they are developing to meet the current 2026 regulations is basically pants. F1’s ambassador of “Wokeism”, Sebastian Vettel, has also been putting his shoulder to the cause with demonstrations on how the sustainable fuels work with some historic cars. However, I think this was just a PR lead for Domenicali’s announcement.
But I suspect the real driving force here is the manufacturers. Those that use F1 as a marketing tool, all produce luxury sports and supercars; and selling a manly appendage extender is difficult if your device sounds like a hairdryer.
An all-electric Ferrari is an oxymoron. However, sustainable fuel makes the right environmentally friendly noise and allows the ICE to continue but hey, only in a V8, V10, and V12 format. Which of course, are only used in high-end sports and supercars.
Marketing Dream
Fortunately, these are high-cost products, only available to the rich, ergo limited production, ergo limited impact on the environment. Transport for the less fortunate will continue its migration to the silent, tyre-noise-only type.
Meanwhile, those with money will “roll with a roar”. I have to say, this is strategy genius. The manufacturers of these high-end marques get another “Unique Selling Point” for their expensive machines. F1 fans get their sound back. Liberty avoids a collision course with Formula E.
And as for Stefano, well, sometimes a man meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.
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