While there are precious few rule changes in 2016 - other than the overly complicated plan to give drivers more choice in terms of tyres - fans can at least expect the sport to sound better.

One of the main complaints about the new formula, introduced in 2014 - other than the fact that Mercedes was the only manufacturer to get it right - is the noise, or rather lack of it.

Those who lived through the original turbo era, not to mention the days of V12s, Flat-12s and even H16s, were left open-mouthed at the damp squib that is the sound of contemporary, hybrid F1.

All that is to change this year however, as the sport seeks to make the engines louder, thereby recreating a little of the spine-tingling magic of years gone by.

"In the past, everyone has run wastegate pipes into the main tailpipe of the engine and what we have to do in 2016 is separate them," Pat Symonds told Reuters in Birmingham today.

"With the wastegate open, it will be 25 percent louder," he added.

In fact, the Briton claims the power units of 2015 were already louder than in 2014.

"We've seen some big increases since the beginning of 2014," he said, "the cars have got naturally louder and they will get naturally louder this year in addition to the changes we have made to the exhaust.

"We haven't heard them on the circuit yet, but I think we may hear a few of the old signature noises from the turbos, the whistles and the pops, but we will have to wait and see about that one," he concluded.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by SideGlance, 19/01/2016 3:32

"It is NOT about volume, its about QUALITY of sound !! And guess what V-6's are NOT it !! So who cares !! Louder 'crap' is still 'crap sound !! Current engine formula is pure silly non-sense, back to 1 Bar engines of V-8, V-10, or even V-12, its called an equivalency engine formula !

SILLY SILLY SILLY !!"

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2. Posted by Rock Doc, 18/01/2016 14:56

"Another Band-Aid over the gaping wound in F1 at the moment. Why fix the engines when we can fix the sound.

Just slip a couple of leeches on your tongue before the race and it will seem like you are back in the good old days ..."

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3. Posted by mickl, 17/01/2016 21:15

"I like hearing the squeal of the tyres and the roar of the crowd when a favoured driver does something well rather than just one all emcompassing noise like it used to be. Don't think it's the volume but the quality of the noise.....would you really like to hear the sound the Mclaren Honda made in 2015 going past at an ear splitting volume??"

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4. Posted by Tweek, 17/01/2016 16:41

"This is a step in the right direction. "

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5. Posted by Willie, 16/01/2016 15:08

"Gawd, I hope not -- I can barely hear the commentators now over the background exhaust noise. It if weren't for closed caption I'd often have no idea what they're saying."

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6. Posted by Cobra Driver, 16/01/2016 12:14

"So they are going to improve F1 by increasing the decibel level of the engines. Be still my heart!"

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F1 will be louder this year, insists Symonds

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