2014 Rolex Australian Grand Prix

[J-PaP]

Was at the track today and unsure what they sound like on TV but they sound fantastic in person.

No they aren't loud
No they don't sound like F1 cars

But it is fantastic to hear the different tunes from each engine manufacturer and all the different sounds each car makes between acceleration and under braking. There is a lot of detail to the sound they make now and it is a lot clearer sound wise how each driver is taking the corner in terms of braking and acceleration. You could hear some drivers flutter the throttle coming onto the straight while others take a more steady increase in throttle while exiting. I doubt all this translates through on TV though.

Around the track most of the complaints I heard were that they weren't loud enough. Not that the sound they made was bad.

 

[BHRxRacer]

Fell asleep in the last 3 mins of FP1. What I remember most was being surprised by RB pushing,and Magnussen's driving. Reminded me of this:


Button seems to handle the car much smoother.

From where I am in Melbourne I can hear the V8's racing at the moment but couldn't hear the F1 cars at all. Must be very quiet.

Yup. Their "sound volume" seems to decrease exponentially over distance. They're not THAT quiet up close, but the further you stand from them the much much quieter they get.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Enjoyed FP1, didn't stay awake for FP2. Enjoyed the new cars, they look challenging to drive and clearly have a lot more to give so I think we may be surprised in Q3 with some quick times. Sound wise, really nice, although difficult to hear from the trackside cameras over the commentary.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

A lot of people are whinging about the noise. Alan Jones went so far as to say that it does not matter how good the racing is; without the sound, it's not Formula 1. Which is completely ridiculous.

Anyway, some more impressions of cars from FP2:

Toro Rosso does not look good. Of all the cars, it seems most prone to twitching, though Kvyat and Vergne might be stomping on the throttle too hard and/or too soon. Kvyat looks like he was swinging the car in early, then getting on the power before the apex and letting the traction push the car through. It's not pretty, but he looks more comfortable than Vergne.

Sauber is stable, but it does not appear fast. Again, that may be Sutil and Gutierrez more than the car. It's a tortoise - slow and steady. It does not have any unwanted movements that betray flaws, making it very Swiss; completely neutral.

Lotus looks like a disaster. Grosjean and Maldonado are probably the two least-suited drivers to be in the E22. It seems to require a deft touch, and if you over-drive it - as Grosjean and (probably) Maldonado - do, it hangs you out to dry.

McLaren looks very planted, with almost no wheelspin, or at least manageable wheelspin. It's definitely a Button car, and it will be interesting to see how Magnussen goes.

Ferrari is stable and quick, but requires a bit of good faith. Alonso appears to have the upper hand; Räikkönen looked like he was trying to tame it, but Alonso seemed to trust the car a little more.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Sound is a big " attraction " factor for F1 but in my opinion the jury is still not out for me, I don't think it's that bad.

If FP1 and 2 are indications then Mercedes will probably walk it, then Ferrari, Mclaren and maybe Williams and RBR fighting it out.

Looks like I'll miss the race because of Uni though

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Don't let lap times fool you - Mercedes was doing 1:33.500s pretty consistently on the harder tyres, but Vettel could only manage a 1:34.600 on a single flying lap at the end, and Ricciardo fell back over longer runs.

 

[DQuaN]

I really like the sound. Mainly because it reminds me of the mid 80's cars.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Don't let lap times fool you - Mercedes was doing 1:33.500s pretty consistently on the harder tyres, but Vettel could only manage a 1:34.600 on a single flying lap at the end, and Ricciardo fell back over longer runs.

True, and that's assuming RedBull can actually run race distance.

Would love a Massa podium though.

 

[Touring Mars]

Epic-looking McLaren in action...

... I was supposed to be going to the race in Melbourne this year, but my plans fell through Maybe next year though... perhaps it was not such a bad thing though, as I was going to book my flight with Malaysia Airlines I was toying with the idea that I could go to the Malaysian GP on my way home, as the flight included a free stop-over in KL.

@Small_Fryz - hope you have a great time and enjoy the weekend - I reckon your liver might require a rest after your epic tour of Europe!, but where better to kick back and relax than at Albert Park this weekend! Well jealous that you'll be in the prime seats for the race itself!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Would love a Massa podium though.

Bottas looks more comfortable in the car, though. Massa is quick, but I think he needs a little more time with the car to find the limits. He's still driving it the way he did last year's Ferrari.

 

[Alex.]

Decent analysis mate, what do you think to Force India?

 

[MagpieRacer]

On board lap if anyone missed the practice.
Mclaren


Red Bull


Quite interesting watching them side by side from the same point (I went from T3).

 

[TenEightyOne]

Alan Jones went so far as to say that it does not matter how good the racing is; without the sound, it's not Formula 1. Which is completely ridiculous.

Alan Jones is very "of his day" though, he's the sort of bruiser who looked fear in the face, kicked it in the nuts, finished its pint and took its girlfriend home.

Happy days, no doubt, but they couldn't last forever.

 

[ECGadget]

This is the saddest I have been at the start of an F1 season, and I remember 20 of them... The engines...

I mean, I wasn't alive in the turbo era, so hearing the turbos is pretty cool, but F1 has lost half its identity now, in my opinion...

 

[MagpieRacer]

They sound fine, people need to get over it.

 

[GTPorsche]

I prefer the grunty sounds over the high-pitched wailing.

 

[Famine]

They sound like the start of a bagpipe concerto.

And obviously since I've seen a video of it on Youtube I can say with complete confidence that this is the real sound [/F-Type Thread Carryover Satire]

 

[unitedstomper]

Redbull sounds like a 4 stroke bike

 

[LittlePaul78]

I really like the sounds, it reminds me of the 80s. However, V10s are the best in my opinion, nothing can beat the scream as it hits 18,000rpm...

 

[VolkswagenX]

The sound is not bad but I think they should be louder.

 

[MustangManiac]

I grew up with throaty, big block American muscle cars, I like the new sounds just fine.

 

[ECGadget]

Personally, if they were able to rev up to a good 18000 rpm, and were about 30% louder, I think everyone would be quite happy. I would settle for that, most certainly. But right now...

 

[Anghammarad]

I for one am glad to not have to listen to the annoying 18000 rpm iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
The sound was the absolutely worst part of F1 in the last few years.

 

[MustangManiac]

I am just not sure there is any way to increase the sound when you are recovering the exhaust to drive the turbo and for the ers(heat), you are simply using some of the force that creates the sound and redirecting to these systems. I think increasing the revs would change the pitch more than anything. Like it or not, I think we are stuck with it.

 

[NFSCARBON1]

I think the problem with the sound is a combination of factors
1. The fuel flow limit is strangling the top end of the engine, even before the rev limit.
2. With 8 gears the drivers are short shifting to save fuel and engine wear.
3. The single turbo and exhaust arrangement is muffling the sound, much more so than the previous turbo cars.

The sound is grunty and more pleasant than the V8 drone, but it's just too quiet.

I'm pleased to see Williams doing well. I'd love to see Massa get a world championship should one of the Ferrari drivers fail to do so. Just no more 1-finger-salute-man please!

 

[TenEightyOne]

Just no more 1-finger-salute-man please!

It depends, some one finger salutes take more skill than others...

 

[Dodzzz]

The engine sounds like it's trying to say: "i'm sad.. *okayface*"

It's depressing in my opinion.
I bet less and less people would buy the ticket from now on.

I myself haven't had the chance to go to an F1 race, and would love to someday, because my big sister had already been there and told me it's really loud and cool, but after listening to this new engine sounds, why would I ??? I don't have anymore reason to be there.. which is to hear and feel it. If I want to just watch, I better stay at home.

 

[MustangManiac]

I would rather see a good race than a loud parade...just sayin' 👍

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

They sound fine, people need to get over it.

If it's not a high pitch V8 that is bouncing off the limiter of having some kind of awful engine retarding system that makes the sound even worse especially under braking these people wont be happy. Those sounds were far more worse than these cars which actually make sense. I'm starting to see which of you supposed "f1 fanatics" actually know about the cars and those who are just sitting there watching and listening to cars but can't be bothered with the tech end...some fans.

 

[Wiegert]

I bet less and less people would buy the ticket from now on.

Simply because one factor isn't to your liking anymore? Even when this year is set to have far less predicable racing that we've seen in the past 5 years?

Most go for the overall spectacle rather than sound alone you know. I'd like to attend a race weekend and watch V6 turbos with reduced decibels going around. Moreso than having to listen to the earsplitting V8 din of recent years. It would still be an exhilarating experience either way.