Given all the new and intricately related stuff the teams haven't yet come to grips with, I think the entire Melbourne race weekend will be, essentially, like another test session for some (most?) teams. They'll all treat it as a race but they're still all bringing fixes based on the last test, all of which need track testing. It's not like a typical race during the year where a team will bring a development package, these are fixes designed with the hope of keeping the cars out of the pits and off the flatbed. Even Merc's success is only relative to the others, they haven't solved all their pre-season problems either. At the other end of the spectrum, words from Renault make it sound like their teams might not even be allowed to use full power, engines detuned. Remember, they only get 5 power units this year. That applies to each basic component of the power unit system. Each of the basic 5 (?) components is subject to the limit and the 5th replacement comes with a penalty, so they need to nurse them along until they're sure they're safe. Means the Renault-powered teams might be able to get their chassis' in shape long before they get full power.
There's some great stuff in this interview. I especially like the short discussion on differing gear ratios; could make things interesting. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjaOVaFn2Gk"]Lewis Hamilton in-depth (Part 1): "I'm hungry now..." - YouTube[/ame]
The Ferraris sound the best. The Mercs sound the harshest but the strongest. I don't remember what the last turbos sounded like. But this doesn't sound like F1. It will take some getting use to.
They sound like outboard motor boats. The show on Ferrari was well done, even with Massa at the Christmas party.
Seems like my early guesses about Caterham being the reliability king of the Renaults was totally off. Oh well.
The Mercedes engines and Renaults sound like Ducati motorcycles to me, the Ferraris sound good by comparison.....
I had a Chevy Vega (with a hole in it's muffler) that sounded like that. I don't guys but I'm not impressed at all. Maybe Bernie was right when he said the fans will not like the sound.
well, I just watched both practice sessions(actually deleted the 2nd one before finishing). Decided already that I won't be going to Austin this year...tickets went on sale today. In years past, as soon as I flip on practice for the first race of the year the howling of the engines gets my blood up and I am in F1 mode for the rest of the year....couldn't wait the last two years to get to Austin to hear them in person. this is sad, so sad...I can barely detect gear changes down the straights... Sounds like my parent's Buick out there. I remember when a friend informed me a couple of years ago that they would be going to V6 turbos in 2014 and I responded by saying I was going to take in as much F1 through 2013 as I could just in case.....well, just in case has arrived... bummer Jeff
Really, F1 is only about the sound for you? I mean, I know that's a component, but..... How about the fact that they get sideways out of turns now, or leave long black streaks coming out of corners? How about the fact that they're already turning times just a tick off of last year's times? Some of the engines sound like Ducati motorcycle engines to me, but that sound sure doesn't make Moto GP any less exciting, does it? The Ferrari sounded wicked too......
Don't get me wrong I love all aspects of F1. But the sound of the screaming 12s, 10s, and 8s will be missed.
Not entirely sure about some of the cars but none of them are turning me off, yet. There are some weird noises here and there but when there were a few cars running close on the track I thought it sounded great. More than one sound mixing together from cars that don't all sound the same! I know, they didn't all sound exactly the same before, either, thanks mostly to different mapping and exhaust solutions (I'm guessing) but now instead of just one loud (wonderful) noise I can detect separate exhaust notes even from cars close together. From my TV! And I'm not hating it. Time to see if the racing is any good. :fingerscrossed: