I don't notice any difference. They suck.
I noticed it too but I know it's just the way it sounds on TV. I think they miked up the circuit better. Nothing has changed to create a better sound. When you're there it's quiet as can be. Challenge cars and Porsche sounds are better. And it is true...the best sounding car out there is the safety car. Mercedes SLS.
last year I was seating across from the pits and I noticed that when they were idling before they take off, they sounded better and louder. Once they took off they all sounded like vacuum cleaners. Very disappointing.
Engine noise is the correct term, it used to be music, the last 2 years have just been noise (albeit much quieter than the music we used to enjoy).
Even when the F1 cars sounded good, TV sound didn't do them justice. At the track is where the real music was. I remember being at Indy at the end of main straight during practice. The (music) of the cars coming out of the turn onto the straight was great!
I attended 23 Grand Prix between 1992 and 2013, it was magnificent, especially the V12s and V10s. I will not spend my hard earned money to go see these PUs, I will still watch on TV, but to spend the amount of money to go to a Formula 1 race, it is just not simply worth it in my opinion. When the Ferrari Challenge and Porsche Cup cars sound much better and are significantly louder, Formula 1 has certainly lost some of its appeal and uniqueness. No more shock and awe, more like a reminder that I need to mow the lawn and vacuum the house.
F1 used to be all about noice, looks and speed. With all these rules and regulations I don't know what is left.
Racing Roombas is a good way to describe these engines. My Briggs & Stratton has a more exciting exhaust note.
Wasn't there talk towards the end of last season or perhaps during the off season about a redesign of the exhaust because they were getting so many complaints? I can almost swear this is true.
There was, and Mercedes even tried some trumpet appendages during mid season testing last year. The reality is exhaust mods are not going to fix the sound problem with these donks. However, free the revs and make them twin turbos and I think these engines could also have a great sound.
I agree and was saddened when I learned the new turbo format was going to be single and not TT. I'm sure they could figure out another path for the ERS system although I wish they would trash it all together.