F1 mustn't be too loud in order that fans can communicate with one another says Ford motorsport boss, as F1 seeks to find a balanced sound for F1 from 2026.

During the various historic parades held at recent races, and indeed over the weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, fans were able to hear the real sound of F1 as V8s, V10s and V12s took to the track.

From the moment the hybrid era got underway, fans were unhappy with the new sound of their sport, and while various solutions have been tried nothing came close to 'that certain sound'.

Previously, F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali gave hope when he hinted that the 2030 engine regulations could see the scrapping of the various hybrid components, thereby allowing some of the sound to return.

However, speaking recently he appeared to have had a change of heart - no doubt influenced by the manufacturers - admitting that hybrid was here to stay.

"The intention is to make sure in the new regulation the engine sound itself will be higher because that's part of our emotion," he told Australia's 3AW. "It is really what our fans want to hear and that's the duty for us to commit to that. We need to have a different sound.

"It's music for my ears," he continued. "It's true that we had the 12 cylinders, it was a different frequency, very loud. And then ten, eight, six...

"It's not again down," he insisted. "It's just the situation is different. Of course we need to be a hybrid, we're going to be hybrid for the future.

Mark Rushbrook, motorsport boss of Ford, which is returning to F1 in 2026 with Red Bull, confirms that talks are ongoing to find a new, balanced sound for the sport.

"It's still TBD how they will actually sound in 2026," he tells Speedcafe. "Because there are changes to the power unit already, obviously for 2026 and changes to the car and the cars are going to sound different for 2026 in many ways.

"But that is certainly an open discussion," he adds, "even though we're not yet racing in 2026. Those meetings and discussions are already happening. What do we want to change for the future beyond that?"

Seemingly the sport is looking for a sound that will go some way to appeasing those who still yearn for the sound of the 'old' F1, and new fans to the sport...

"Well, there's definitely a difference," says Rushbrook. "When you go to a race, especially with a family, you want to be able to communicate with each other.

"So there's a balance, I think, or maybe a right level. So, yeah, we'll see how those discussions shake out."

Quite how families are able to communicate with each other whilst music is blasted out of the trackside speakers up to the very moment the lights go out is a mystery. Indeed, often, in the moments before the race, engineers are clearly struggling to communicate with their drivers such is the noise.

All of which appears to support the claim being made by some that races - the recent British Grand Prix being a prime example - are now essentially music festivals interspersed with the occasional bit of racing.

All the press releases from Silverstone in the weeks and days leading up to the Grand Prix referred only to the various DJs, singers and bands performing, with little or no mention of the actual racing.

Indeed, seeking a balanced sound in order that families can communicate is somewhat like those people who move to a new area then immediately complain about things like the church bells and the noise from the pub, all of which were there for decades, and often a lot longer, before they moved there.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by moomoo, 16/07/2024 19:43

"You've all missed the point.

Shutting down the Domenicali clown would change the sound of F1 dramatically."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Apexing, 16/07/2024 14:32

"@flyinglap Great point about the sounds being lost on TV compared to being at the track. I had forgotten that every time the cars downshifted @ Indy, it sounded like a cannon was going off with each downshift. We were sitting a hundred yards or so before Turn One, which was the fastest part of the circuit. When the cars downshifted to make the turn, it sounded like something was detonating each time. I'd been watching religiously for years, and had never heard that on TV!! "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by JamesD, 16/07/2024 11:42

"Dust off the 3 litre V10 engines please !!"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by Wokingchap, 16/07/2024 8:12

"What absolute rubbish!"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 16/07/2024 2:38

"How about a hi-revving 3-cylinder 2-stroke.

After 10 laps you will not see the cars for the smoke :)"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by Apexing, 15/07/2024 19:48

"The cars can't be too loud! We need the fans to still hear the DJ's while they're taking selfies queueing up to buy merchandise and $100 sushi rolls. How awful...

At my first F1 race in Indy in 2001 (right after 9/11 and the race where Zanardi lost his legs), I remember the hair on the back of my neck standing on end when the cars would drive by at full song. Those V10s were freaking stunning..."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by dontd, 15/07/2024 19:42

"hahahaha....

quote: "F1 mustn't be too loud in order that fans can communicate with one another says Ford motorsport boss, as F1 seeks to find a balanced sound for F1 from 2026"

wowza, this must come from one of those... mor... DEI based companies

too bad so sad....

personally... i would vote to get rid of most of the today's ridiculous regulations... and...
Make Again Racing Great. (MARG) -lololol"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by flyinglap, 15/07/2024 16:51

"THE Henry Ford wouldn't recognise anymore the company he founded, and not even his own descendants, or the (hijacked) foundation that bears his name and leverages immense financial resources for promoting "globalist" ideals and policies. So, no surprise there that the Ford motorsport boss introduces this concept of "balanced engine sound" for Formula 1. I suppose that otherwise some sensitive soul or "minority group" might find "offensive" the harmonics of a multicylinder racing engine (besides the families obviously needing to communicate while actually watching a motorsport competition because while driving there everybody would be busy with their smartphones). By the way, the purpose of a distinctly audible engine sound is to enable the spectators to better appreciate how each driver performs and operates their car, where they "lift", where they brake, and how they apply the throttle to make the car handle the way they want around the turns. All this is obviously lost when watching a race on television, but it is indeed crucial and highly educative when watching a race at the track. To be continued..."

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by rambler, 15/07/2024 15:05

"Make the cars as quiet and efficient as possible. Then have a sound system to pump the sound through the grandstand."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by Tyrbiter, 15/07/2024 14:27

"Make it sound like a BRM V16 and I'm done."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by Duckworth, 15/07/2024 12:28

"I imagine the powers that be will be holding focus groups with key stakeholders to search for what they believe is the “ideal”engine note to draw in additional fans, hell they might even seek input from Taylor Swift so they can get it just right! I’d also be willing to bet they’ll be just as successful in this contrived effort as they are when introducing new regulations every 5-7 years to improve on track passing. Thank you Liberty and thank you Stefano!"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by kenji, 15/07/2024 11:59

"The human body and sound are very closely bound. As a child the sound of a creaking floorboard on a dark and wintry night results in fear. Mind over body. The wonderful sound of laughter has the opposite effect. The sound of a race car, hard at work, raises the level of excitement and a quickening pulse and that's what we need. IMO an F1 car needs to have a level of rawness in its sound. It needs to be at a level that necessitates a degree of increased volume when communicating. It needs to be well above the ordinary in order to authenticate and substantiate its very existence. I recall sitting in an IMAX theatre, mid tier, watching and listening to a Cape Canaveral space rocket launch and feeling my shirt front being buffeted by the sound waves.....extraordinary sensation. It can't come quick enough."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

F1 needs a "balanced" sound says Ford motorsport boss

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page