The V8s were too loud, they made your ears bleed according to Warwick

From the first laps of the Formula 1 season, the issue of engine noise has been raised, sometimes with great vigor, as on the side of Ron Walker, director of the Melbourne Grand Prix and president of the Grand Prix Organizers Association (the FOPA), or on the side of some drivers like Sebastian Vettel.

But other opinions are being heard, starting with that of Derek Warwick, former Formula 1 driver for Toleman, Renault, Arrows, and Lotus, now president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC). He also frequently serves as a driver steward at Formula 1 Grand Prix events, like this weekend in Bahrain.

For him, changes were necessary: « I have been in this sport for 50 years, I love my sport, and I will never disparage it. Do we need to change things? Yes. Do our fans support us? 100%, » he stated for Reuters.

He also confides that ticket sales have not weakened despite the flood of criticism about the new sound of Formula 1: « We [the organizers of the British Grand Prix] are in line with last year [in terms of ticket sales], so we couldn’t ask for more. »

He goes even further by decrying the old engine, the atmospheric V8: « If people really think about it, V8s were too loud. I think they made ears bleed. We just need to readjust our own volume. » In conclusion, he believes that « the problem with most people is impulsive reaction. »

On his side, Richard Phillips, the director of the Silverstone circuit, believes that novelty is a factor of curiosity: “I think the British public is intrigued by what they see in the press and on TV and they want to come and form their own opinion about it.”

« I currently have no evidence that these new changes are making a difference in ticket sales. We are seeing some nice little spikes… I am reasonably encouraged by the way things are going, » he says to Reuters. « We are quite excited for this year. »