Substance Over Sound: There's More To F1 Than Audio-Visual Pleasure

"Oh my god, it’s so soundy, F1 is so soundy!” There are many aspects of Formula 1 that are hyped to increase spectator interest and anticipation.

That includes the experience of seeing and hearing these highly tuned prototypes scream (or growl, depending on the era) past at the racetrack or fill up a living room. While some hyped aspects can, at most times, be dismissed as fluff the audio-visual experience is not one of them.

To a newcomer to an F1 race like the excited young lady who appeared on television after the 2012 edition of the Indian Grand Prix whose quote leads off this article, the combined sight and sound of an F1 car is something that sticks.

It’s an important aspect but is only the surface of a far more important aspect of F1, one that will determine the sport’s relevance, image and even the grid pecking order.

The engine of an F1 car has hardly been constant in its specification or audio signature and yet due to the ‘residual’ effect of YouTube clips, the current 2.4-litre, V-8 configuration has come to be seen as irreplaceable by a large section of F1 fans.

Even 26-year-old Sebastian Vettel branded himself as ‘old-fashioned’ enough to not like the impending 2014 regulations, which will feature 1.6-litre, turbocharged V-6 engines aimed at dramatically increasing fuel economy while maintaining current levels of power.

Red Bull Racing’s own engine supplier Renault Sport F1 and even 55-year-old McLaren team principal are among the major players who could actually claim to be old fashioned who respectfully disagree with the newly-crowned four-time F1 champ.

Renault Sport F1 gave the press including autoX a lowdown on the workings of the new powertrain. Due to drastically increased heat recovery and not just kinetic energy, the new RS34 cannot be called an engine anymore.

The details and workings of the engine can be seen in the illustrations provided by Renault. The desired effect of making F1 more relevant can be seen by Honda choosing to return to F1 as an engine supplier in 2015.

Now it’s just down to those “soundy” YouTube clips.