Christian Horner and Lewis Hamilton lead calls for louder cars

A SWAG of Formula One stars love the new look of the cars ahead of the 2017 season. But there’s something they want everyone to hear.

MONTMELO, SPAIN — MARCH 08: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner watches from the Red Bull Racing pit wall gantry during day two of Formula One winter testing at Circuit de Catalunya on March 8, 2017 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

RED Bull team principal Christian Horner has urged Formula One’s new owners to find a way to bring back the noise.

While Horner supports the new regulations that have brought a significant revamp to the cars for the 2017 season, he wants to see the volume again turned up on the engines.

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The FIA flagged “higher revving engines and increased noise” when it originally announced its rules overhaul, but any difference to the sound of the new machines is negligible.

The dulled noise generated by the V6 turbo engines has been a source of dissatisfaction among fans and some drivers, with many craving a return to the piercing engine sound of earlier models.

Horner said new owners, Liberty Media, who have taken over the running of Formula One after the removal of long-time supremo Bernie Ecclestone, needed to look “very carefully” at how they could create more engine noise to enhance the experience for fans.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner: “The only thing I would like to see is the volume turned up on the engines.” Picture: Getty Images

“I think the cars look great, I think they look more like Formula One cars, there is a few bits that would be nice to tidy up like the shark fins and the wing that’s on the back of the engine cover, but I think overall it’s a great improvement and a bigger challenge for the drivers,’’ Horner said.

“The only thing I would like to see is the volume turned up on the engines. That’s not a short-term fix, however, but hopefully there’s a long-term solution for that.

“It’s something the new owners need to look at very carefully and I’m sure they are.’’

Horner’s comments come after FIA president Jean Todt said this week that Formula One could not make a return to louder V10 or V12 engines because he did not believe the move would be “accepted by society”.

Williams veteran Felipe Massa, who has been a part of several regulation changes in his F1 career, yesterday lamented that there had been no improvement in the sound of the cars.

“No, it’s just the same unfortunately,’’ Massa said.

Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton said earlier this year he thought the cars sounded “terrible”.

Lewis Hamilton recalls his ribcaghe rumbling while watching an F1 race in his younger days. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve said time and time again that I think it’s terrible. But most people are like ‘Oh, it’s not that bad’, but my opinion is that I think it is,’’ Hamilton said.

“When I first went to a Grand Prix at Spa in 1996, got into the paddock and Michael (Schumacher) came past in the V10 (Ferrari) and it literally rumbled my ribcage. I was hooked even more than I was when I’d watched it on TV. It was like a fighter jet — I was like ‘what the hell?’

“It just sad to see the cars come by now, sound-wise.”

Horner said he supported any plans to enhance the spectacle of Formula One.

“From what I understand their vision is to put on great events, shows, make Formula One real entertainment, accessible and provide a better sporting spectacle with more access for the fans,’’ Horner said.

“It all sounds great, but what we’ve got to work out now is how to achieve that.’’