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Cyril Abiteboul: "F1 should not turn up engine volume"

Published on 19 Feb 2018 08:47
9
By: Rob Veenstra

F1 should not be trying to turn up the volume of its 'power units'. Ever since the hybrid era began in 2014, fans have lamented the new sound and the sport's authorities have vowed to rev it up for the future.

But Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said quiet engines are simply a sign of the power units' incredible efficiency. "The exhaust sound is energy," the Frenchman told Canadian radio Rive-Sud de Montreal.

"If we begin to convert more energy into sound, then we will not achieve a good result in terms of energy efficiency. A loud sound from the engine and the economy of the engine are two conflicting goals," Abiteboul added.

He said a better approach would be to wait for the next generation of F1 fans to better appreciate energy efficiency. "A generation of fans who have never heard V10 or V8 engines will soon grow up, and for them quiet engines will be the norm," he said. "Perhaps formula one moved from one stage to the next too quickly and today is somewhat ahead of its time." (GMM)

Major Tom

Posts: 152

Also the vast majority of fans only ever watch on telly. Sound is not an issue for them.

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Feb 19 2018 - 10:48

F1 News Renault

Replies (9)

Major Tom

Posts: 152
Also the vast majority of fans only ever watch on telly. Sound is not an issue for them.
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- Feb 19 2018 - 10:48
HEINZ

Posts: 61
Although I appreciate good engine sound, I agree that decreasing efficiency is not the way to go... First engineering, then the show.
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- Feb 19 2018 - 11:58
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Performance and sound quality should be a priority, however slightly more noise wouldnt be bad. If the inline four engines of Super GT can have the kind of sound they have, there is no excuse for why F1 cant, and it should ultimately be seen as a failure, although not a major or important one.
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- Feb 19 2018 - 16:39
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  I think that having 1.6 liter engines that use less than half of the amount of gas of the previous generation, and still manage to have more performance than virtually any engine ever made is the definition of success. The sound is a by product. Super GT sounds great, but those engines are dinosaurs and F1 is about what's next, not what was. That being said, I'd be ok with ditching some of the hybrid component of the current engine, but not for sound's sake.
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  Feb 20 2018 - 20:41
rscooper

Posts: 4
"a better approach would be to wait for the next generation of F1 fans". What an arrogant thing to say. Who do you think has made F1 what it is today? The past and present fans. If todays fans walked away, there would be no waiting for the next lot as there would be no F1.
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- Feb 19 2018 - 18:41
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  He has a point. There is a significant portion of the previous generation that resents any change that makes the sport look more different to 1982. Look at all the whining going on about literally everything Liberty has implemented. Meanwhile, the worldwide audience grew.
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  Feb 20 2018 - 20:38
krommenaas

Posts: 155
I agree with him. The sound of the engine should be the result of the technology, not of nostalgia.
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- Feb 19 2018 - 18:54
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Absolutely. I think if the natural evolution of things causes the engines to be quieter let it be. Artificially increasing volumes with microphones and other bulls***t? That's stupid.
  + 0
  
  Feb 20 2018 - 20:35
Barron

Posts: 625
I agree with him. I have never had an issue with the sound and I have heard every F1 engine ever produced since about 1962. Of course we miss the roaring unfettered old brigade but I really hated the latter V8 era, and even the later part of the V10 era. The extreme rpm’s did nothing for me save damage my hearing. The hybrid turbo is a complex and interesting sound which is much louder in the flesh than has ever been portrayed on the box. When I first heard it (Ferrari La Ferrari test mule), I thought they had recreated the Pod Racers from Star Wars!
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- Feb 20 2018 - 12:33