alexb76

Was just watching the first practice session of the season and I AM SHOCKED, these new Turbo cars sound HORRIFIC, like seriously it's the WORST sound in motorsport by far right now.

Total fail, all around. #FAIL

65kodey

I could not agree more!!!

Very much regretting not seeing them live when they had the V8's!!!

kosmo

Yup.

On to nascar now. Where can i buy those beer helmets?

PhilD

I'd have to hear them in person, as the sound on TV never sounds the same as the real thing, and you miss out on the ear piercing scream, the vibration in the grandstand, etc, etc, that you get from been there. However, they do sound a touch on wimpy side. I loved the sound of the 2.4 V8s, but nothing beats the BRM V16.

element

I agree with the in person.. i wish the commentators made some comments (which is their job) of how they sound in real life vs on TV. Hearing them in real life is so much different than on TV for the loudness of the noise they make - you need hearing protection.. they are louder than loud! and even more loud than that! now.. are the new ones really really really loud like the v8s? just lower pitch? The problem with turbos is that they eat noise, just like a normal turbo car.

the cars do look a bit more twitchy, but that could be the drivers playing with the limits of grip.. Sunday will be the ultimate test to see if the formula works to keep things exciting
- new aero packages - how will dirty air impact the cars when they get close to each other
- WAY more KERS - its night and day from last year.. the torque management by the drivers might change things

overall this is just technology moving forwards... it always hurts, but will work out (I have blind faith)

phil.

StormRune

PhilD, you didn't make the drive up to Austin sometime during the last two years to see the F1 races at COTA?!

In person, the biggest thing you notice is just how astoundingly loud they were. Even with ear protection they were loud but the sound was still quite amazing! I'm hoping the new cars sound better in person. I guess I'll have to go back this year to find out.

PhilD

Yes, I went last year. Sat in the main grandstand, listening to the start of the race was glorious

cvtbenhogan

I agree and miss the f1 V10 whine. Similar thing years ago when motocross went from 2 strokes to 4. But you get used to it.

Is a turbo 4 boxster engine hybrid coming to Porsche? I think so.

F1 is still the sh&t!.

SeanR

They now sound like every V-6 mustang that is teenage owned around here

Banilej0

I want to be optimistic but I'm also underwhelmed by the sound. It feels strange watching them zoom by with lack of screaming revs behind. Lower revs is also noticeable. Will adjust I guess but you just can't beat NA for pure sound.

alexb76

I don't actually mind if they wanna expand the technology, use some hybrid technology to make the cars faster, but to use TURBO V6 has simply RUINED the noise and excitement of the cars/races. They could have simply kept everything else the same, like the new extra Kers, hybrid power, reduced the size of the engine to 2.0 or so, and kept it V8! Win-win... what's the gain from the stupid V6T, it's not like it hasn't been done before.

I was on the fence before, but after watching the practice... I turned it off half way through and deleted off PVR and I couldn't stand this crappy noise!

TommyV44

Formula 1 died with this guy for me!!

PrimeMvr

I love the advancing tech, but the sound is pathetic and it makes the cars feel slow on TV. Extra KERS is really throwing the rears out of balance under hard braking. The first few races will be fun to watch as the drivers get used to the new handling characteristics. The new front ends are FUGLY!

We'll see how they sound in November at COTA. I suspect they won't be much different than that of the muffled 458 challenge cars. Nothing can beat the V10 Mercedes screaming down the front straight at Indy spinning 21k RPM when sitting in the covered area of the stands. They had a really unique sound because of their exhaust configuration, which was quite different than all the other teams at the time.

F1 still rules. Cool to see the Martini colors back.

kosmo

Senna

Tcc1999

Might we be counting how many angels fit on the head of a pin. Is the sound more important than competition and at least trying to control costs? Competition in F1, more than two or three teams with legitimate chances to win? Oh, wait, sorry, my dementia kicked in there, yeah the cars sound horrible, bring back the Ferrari V-12!

(Just my opinion but I have seen one or two GPs in my day - damn, thinking about it I must be old because I remember being lucky enough to sit in Jody Scheckter's 6 wheeled Tyrrell when I was a kid.)