F1 will continue to push for louder engines, according to disgruntled Australian grand prix chief Ron Walker.<\/p>\n
Last week in Barcelona, Mercedes tried a trumpet-shaped exhaust attachment designed to turn up the volume of this year’s turbo V6s.<\/p>\n
The unanimous conclusion was that F1’s first try at loudening the sport’s aural spectacle did not work, and many were relieved that artificially tweaking the new and highly-sophisticated engines had not proved so simple.<\/p>\n
F1, however, will not stop here, Walker insists.<\/p>\n
In Barcelona, the Australian led a rare meeting of almost every single promoter on the entire F1 calendar, and “Everybody agreed”, he has now told Fairfax Media.<\/p>\n
Until now, the subjects discussed at the meeting had not been confirmed, but “We’re all concerned about the noise level,” Walker now reveals.<\/p>\n
“We can’t wait until next year,” he insisted.\u00a0 “Something has to be done soon.<\/p>\n
“Everybody agreed.\u00a0 We’re all in the entertainment business.\u00a0 The people in the stands don’t understand the new regulations.\u00a0 They want aggression, they want a gladiatorial contest,” said Walker.<\/p>\n
“My customers don’t care about only using 100 kilograms of fuel in a race.\u00a0 Ticket sales are hard to get these days because the sports market is so competitive.”<\/p>\n
But according to quadruple world champion Alain Prost, the mixed messages coming out of formula one at the moment is a bigger problem for the sport.<\/p>\n
Frenchman Prost is now involved in the brand new Formula E series, where the entirely battery-powered single seaters are almost completely silent.<\/p>\n
Prost thinks F1’s move to modern, hybrid engines is “fantastic”, but the mixed messages are drowning out the good news.<\/p>\n
“Right now the (F1) cars have the same power (as before) but are using 30 to 40 per cent less fuel, which is amazing, so big,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But the fans perhaps do not care too much, so there is a little bit of confusion and young people aren’t following and aren’t interested,” Prost explained.<\/p>\n
“With Formula E it is much more interesting, and with the organisers we are all in the same boat.”<\/p>\n
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