The news last month that Formula One is to get an official theme tune caused a bit of a stir.

Fans in the UK wanted to know why Fleetwood Mac's The Chain was being dropped when in fact the iconic track is merely used by British broadcasters and is not the official F1 theme.

Indeed, under Bernie Ecclestone, any music used officially was either out of copyright and therefore free to use, or a couple of notes on a guitar no doubt knocked-out by a busker the (then) F1 supremo spotted around Knightsbridge.

In its bid to remind everyone that the sport is 'under new management', new owners Liberty have not only come up with a new logo, a website with current news (though no controversy), a new font and countless ways to p*** off Ferrari and Mercedes but that new theme tune.

So, without further ado, sit back, turn those speakers up to 11 and revel in the new sound of F1, as envisaged by Hollywood composer Brian Tyler.

Other than the fact that it clearly needs more cowbell, we wonder if the on-track action will be quite as dramatic.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Mark, 22/03/2018 18:52

"Bad movie music with Frank Zappa style drums. Awful."

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2. Posted by RDFox, 22/03/2018 18:08

"@Mat: Only the BBC can use "The Chain" for free. Any other broadcaster in the world has to pay royalties on it, as would FOM if they adopted it as an overall F1 theme song. (Not to mention that, to my American ear, I don't really see much connection between it and F1. Yes, I know the Beeb used it forever, but beyond the fact that someone at the Radiophonic Workshop decided to use it for an F1 opening title sequence way back when, what connection is there? The lyrics, in particular, have *nothing* to do with motorsport...)

As to the tune itself... dear lord, I know Elmer Bernstein's dead, so you can't go with the God of Epic Film Scores (I still say his score to The Magnificent Seven was the best film score ever), but John Williams hasn't retired yet, and if you're going for the Rocky/American Gladiators vibe (or classic Bond, since he did For Your Eyes Only when John Barry wouldn't come to the UK for tax reasons), then Bill Conti is still alive and active and would be able to bang out something reminiscent of them without any trouble. Why go with some nobody and get this... mediocrity?

Oh, right. Because the guys who could write you a truly iconic and memorable theme song in their sleep would cost *money*. Of course. How silly of me to forget..."

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3. Posted by JoeF1, 22/03/2018 17:52

"Hopefully the teams & FIA still know what they are doing and there's actually a race this Sunday, procession or not, hopefully not.

Sadly Liberty doesn't seem to have a clue. They clearly can't make any real changes so they're tweaking things that don't matter in the big picture. Typical corporate America culture. "

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4. Posted by Chuck, 22/03/2018 17:46

"I will make some friends m but I like it!ad,"

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5. Posted by vins0n, 22/03/2018 11:17

"Isn't that the theme from Sharknadotopus vs Giant robosasuragator or is it just generic syfy theme #345?"

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6. Posted by Lotus.E.Clan, 22/03/2018 7:23

"Cheesey!

Americana film music!

Got to say it perfectly suits Liberty Media.

..but not Formula 1...

...that said, considering recent changes (halo, fart engine, weight gain etc) maybe it does!

"

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7. Posted by Superbird70, 22/03/2018 2:18

"Might as well have used the theme from "633 Squadron".
To paraphrase;
Fans :'But they're probably all gone. All of the teams'.
Liberty: "You can't kill a sport.""

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8. Posted by Nortim, 21/03/2018 20:38

"When is Rambo going to appear?"

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9. Posted by Editor, 21/03/2018 18:11

"@ 79-626inHI

No, it is not just you.

They have included various 'old' engine sounds."

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10. Posted by 79-626inHI, 21/03/2018 17:54

"Is it just me, or doesn't the background engine noise sound like the older and sadly missed, higher reving engines instead of the current outboard motorboat droning?"

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11. Posted by chazz, 21/03/2018 17:39

"I'm from the states, yes it's embarrassing ."

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12. Posted by -ape-, 21/03/2018 16:56

"-Yawn - who needs this ??"

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13. Posted by danielmb, 21/03/2018 16:29

"Sounds like a generic theme song for some Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis action flick. I suppose that is to be expected from a Hollywood composer.

If Liberty truly believes they need a catchy theme song to add excitement, what does that really say about the state of the sport?"

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14. Posted by Daydah, 21/03/2018 16:22

"Eminently forgettable."

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15. Posted by Greg, 21/03/2018 15:37

"Sounds more like some movie intro not F1. Unless its for a new F1 driver movie"

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Revealed: F1's new theme tune

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