Will the volume of engine noise be increased soon?
This weekend, Jean Todt, president of the FIA, had numerous meetings with team directors to discuss regulations. While the noise of engines might increase, fuel economy will not be revised.
The cacophony of complaints about the lack of engine noise has finally been heard by Jean Todt, president of the FIA. In recent weeks, the fans, Bernie Ecclestone, and some drivers have raised their voices against the sound of the new 1.6 turbo V6 power units.
Loud engines expected for Monaco?
This weekend in Bahrain, a series of meetings took place between team directors and Jean Todt. The Frenchman indicated to our British colleagues from *Autosport* that the complaints were numerous enough to warrant a modification: « It’s a subject on which we’ve been approached by all the manufacturers involved in F1. We must therefore see if we can implement a louder noise in the short, medium, or long term. »
The FIA president also announced the creation of a working group with the goal of finding a way to increase engine volume. When asked about a date, Jean Todt replied: « It’s difficult for me to give a precise answer. […] We must implement the solution with the unanimous agreement of the teams. After Barcelona, there will be two days of testing, so we hope that something can be tested there. »
A few days ago, Rémi Taffin, the head of track operations at Renault Sport F1, announced that it would be impossible to change the sound of the V6 Turbo engines. We wonder what miracle solution the FIA will pull out of its hat.
No other regulatory changes
Jean Todt refuses any change to the fuel economy rules, as reportedly requested by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo: « In a competitive world, those who are ahead usually do not complain, unlike those who are behind. There are many examples throughout the history of F1 and life. Ask Hamilton and Rosberg if they think they drive like taxi drivers… » states the Frenchman.
For him, the differences could be due to the weight of the engine. « I heard that some engines are above the minimum weight limit, which is 145 kilos. If you have an engine that’s five, ten, or fifteen kilos heavier, of course, it won’t be as fast. »
