Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has echoed comments from Christian Horner over louder car engines, ahead of new regulations coming into force.
Cars involved in the sport will be subject to new rules from 2026, with engine noise a consideration. There had been concerns about quieter races under the current system taking away from the emotion of Formula 1, with Red Bull principal Christian Horner among those to ask questions.
Now, though, Domenicali's response might ease any fears on the subject. Still, there are likely to be plenty of conversations over the future of F1 engines in the lead-up to the new regulations taking effect.
“The intention is to make sure in the new regulation the engine [noise] itself will be higher because that’s part of our emotion,” Domenicali told Australian radio station 3AW (via RaceFans). “It is really what our fans want to hear and that’s the duty for us to commit to that.”
“We need to have a different sound," he added when playing down the idea of moving to quieter vehicles, as has been the case in Formula E. "It’s music for my ears. It’s true that we had the 12 cylinders, it was a different frequency, very loud. And then 10, eight, six – it’s not [going] again down.
“It’s just the situation is different. Of course we need to be a hybrid, we’re going to hybrid for the future.”
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Horner has consistently spoken about the need for noisier engines. "Formula One over the last few years has in many ways embraced too much technology which has zero relevance to the fan in the grandstand, and we've damaged the DNA of the sport," he told City A.M. back in 2017
"We need to go back to more simple engines, cheaper engines, louder, bring back the noise. Bring back the shriek and the thrill of hearing a Formula One engine operate, and we need to make sure the drivers are the stars, that the best driver ultimately wins."
Horner's Red Bull team sit atop the constructors' championship for 2023, and also occupy the top two spots in the drivers' standings. Reigning champion Max Verstappen is on course to retain his title after winning four races in a row, with the gap to team-mate Sergio Perez widening.
