MAY 5, 2016

Honda questions need for louder F1

Honda has questioned moves to further turn up the volume of F1's current 'power units'.

Honda has questioned moves to further turn up the volume of F1's current 'power units'.

With many believing the turbo V6 engines are not loud enough for the 'show', for 2016 additional 'wastegate' exhaust pipes were added.

But the sound only went up by a few decibels, causing the FIA to announce that manufacturers are now doing "promising research" about increasing the volume even more by 2018.

Honda's F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa said: "For the noise, I personally do not agree. I'm not sure what we really need is for F1 to be deafening," he is quoted by Italy's Autosprint.

"I question the need for an artificial system to amplify the sound, but if FOM introduces it, we will follow the rules," said the Japanese.

(GMM)