19 Mar 2014

Ecclestone wants more noise in F1

5:56 am on 19 March 2014

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he'll try to make new-look machines sound "more like racing cars" after organisers of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix threatened to sue for breach of contract.

The sport is pushing the boundaries of hybrid technology this year with 2014's F1 machines running races on 35 per cent less fuel than last season.

Turbocharged engines are back for the first time since 1988, with last year's 2.4-litre V8s replaced by 1.6-litre V6s.

But Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker, while delighted with the overall success of Sunday's season-opening event won by Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, said the lack of noise was not what he paid for or what the fans expected.

Walker said if you sat in the grandstand you could hardly hear the cars approaching.

Ecclestone says he was horrified by the lack of noise... he's been speaking with FIA president Jean Todt and they'll see whether there is some way of making them sound like racing cars.

Ferrari says they've also had complaints, saying this isn't Formula One.