Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Formula 1 needs engines to be louder when the next formula is introduced into the championship.
Formula 1’s current 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrid power units will be retained through at least 2024, and possibly 2025, as discussions continue over the new engine regulations.
A meeting between major power unit stakeholders took place at the recent round in Austria, with Red Bull present due to its impending status as an engine supplier through Red Bull Powertrains.
“Formula 1 for me is about noise, it is about entertainment, the fastest cars in the world,” said Horner.
“I think the combustion engine does have a future and there’s no reason to think that… why not introduce high revving engines that sound fantastic that are doing it in an environmentally friendly manner? I think biofuels and sustainable fuels enable you to do that.”
Horner referenced last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at which two-time champion Fernando Alonso demonstrated his title-winning 2005 Renault, powered by a V10 engine.
“Every fan out there, when you hear Fernando running his V10 Renault, around Abu Dhabi, the emotion and noise for me is still such a key factor that is missing from the sport,” he said.
“We need to turn the volume up, but do it in a responsible and cost-effective manner, and environmentally friendly, but it needs to be entertainment – that’s why people turn the TVs on, that’s why they watch this sport.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff shared a similar stance but stressed that Formula 1 has to have a more global perspective.
“It’s what we think, but we are not the most relevant generation anymore,” said Wolff.
“When you ask an 18-year-old or 22-year-old what relevance noise has, most of these guys consume it via different screens where noise has little or no relevance.
“I personally like it too. I’d like a 12 cylinder that screams down the road, but we are a sport and a business and we would lose complete relevance with our partners, sponsors and major stakeholders if we weren’t looking at the environment and the impact we make.
“I think it would be totally dis-aligned with where the world is going and probably tun every single business partner engine away from F1 if we stick with internal combustion engines that scream – even though we may like them.”
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