18-11-2017, 05:51 PM
I think there are two, or even maybe three or four issues effecting the hybrid sound...
1) The turbo’s do kill the high pitched screams, no question, making the engine bark and spit, sounding rough as hell, but also muffling the sound as the aim is to keep the pressure up, not let the air (sound) out.
2) Way lower revs. The lower revs were stipulated by the FIA for some reason. I remember at the time the teams scratched their heads and went “erm... OK?”... I don’t think any understood the point, and neither do I. The FIA claimed it was to ensure fuel efficiency... but they set a fuel flow limit rate sooo... yeah, redundant ruling was redundant.
3) The MGU-H also doesn’t help as it just exacerbates the effect of the Turbo, but also sits on the top of the engine stifling any sounds it might produce. In general the engines are now much better insulated, because of the energy recovery systems, and although the aim isn’t to stifle the sound, it is a by-product of the amazing efficiency drives.
4) Complex exhaust systems, that double back, twist and restrict, and that contain rather large catalytic converters, otherwise known as big bloody sound dampeners!
5) They’re V6 engines. It’s really as simple as that for an awful lot of it.
OK, so when I got going it turns out there were probably 5 good reason. I however, being a tech nerd love these engines. They are quite frankly staggering feats of engineering that both baffle and amaze me. They produce more BHP than almost any F1 engines from any era, and do so using way less fuel than before, and at efficiency rates many thought we’d never see from ICE’s only 5 or 6 years ago. I remember people scoffing when F1 said they’d have engines hitting 30% efficiency, then Mercedes rocked up day 1 hitting 38%. These engines, if allowed to develop, and given a bit more freedom on battery size / usage could be blisteringly fast if teams were allowed an engine a race, like the good old days. Actually, just give the teams 5 engines and let them turn the wick up and we’d see some fireworks. I thought I missed the sound, but you know what? I don’t, I’m too busy being amazed by the brutal acceleration they produce.
1) The turbo’s do kill the high pitched screams, no question, making the engine bark and spit, sounding rough as hell, but also muffling the sound as the aim is to keep the pressure up, not let the air (sound) out.
2) Way lower revs. The lower revs were stipulated by the FIA for some reason. I remember at the time the teams scratched their heads and went “erm... OK?”... I don’t think any understood the point, and neither do I. The FIA claimed it was to ensure fuel efficiency... but they set a fuel flow limit rate sooo... yeah, redundant ruling was redundant.
3) The MGU-H also doesn’t help as it just exacerbates the effect of the Turbo, but also sits on the top of the engine stifling any sounds it might produce. In general the engines are now much better insulated, because of the energy recovery systems, and although the aim isn’t to stifle the sound, it is a by-product of the amazing efficiency drives.
4) Complex exhaust systems, that double back, twist and restrict, and that contain rather large catalytic converters, otherwise known as big bloody sound dampeners!
5) They’re V6 engines. It’s really as simple as that for an awful lot of it.
OK, so when I got going it turns out there were probably 5 good reason. I however, being a tech nerd love these engines. They are quite frankly staggering feats of engineering that both baffle and amaze me. They produce more BHP than almost any F1 engines from any era, and do so using way less fuel than before, and at efficiency rates many thought we’d never see from ICE’s only 5 or 6 years ago. I remember people scoffing when F1 said they’d have engines hitting 30% efficiency, then Mercedes rocked up day 1 hitting 38%. These engines, if allowed to develop, and given a bit more freedom on battery size / usage could be blisteringly fast if teams were allowed an engine a race, like the good old days. Actually, just give the teams 5 engines and let them turn the wick up and we’d see some fireworks. I thought I missed the sound, but you know what? I don’t, I’m too busy being amazed by the brutal acceleration they produce.
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