http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/307936/ecclestone-lack-of-noise-needs-to-be-investigated/
9:52 – Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said the sport needs to ‘investigate’ how to make the new generation of V6-turbo powered cars sound more like proper 'racing cars' and that they should ‘maybe look to do something’ after the opening few races.
His comments were prompted after Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) Chairman Ron Walker said he was ‘not too happy with the sound’ during the race at Albert Park on Sunday and that it was ‘clearly a breach of contract’.
“I was not horrified by the noise. I was horrified by the lack of it,” Ecclestone told ESPNF1.com. “Ron is right with regards to their contract. And I was sorry to be proved right with what I've said all along; these cars don't sound like racing cars.
“I've been speaking with Jean [Todt, FIA president] this afternoon and what I've said is that we need to see whether there is some way of making them sound like racing cars. I don't know whether it's possible but we should investigate. I think let's get the first few races out of the way and then maybe look to do something. We can't wait all season. It could be too late by then.”
Eccelstone meanwhile added that Walker is not the only promoter concerned about the lack of noise compared to the previous V8 powerplants.
“I've had one or two promoters get in touch with me today and they said how unhappy they are,” added the 83-year-old in a separate interview with Reuters. “I spoke to [Ferrari president] Luca di Montezemolo just now and Luca said he's never had as many emails on his desk complaining and saying this isn't Formula 1.”
Pressed on if the lack of noise is really a breach of contract, Ecclestone added: “I don't know whether he [Walker] has got a point. Let's assume he hasn't got a point as far as the legal side is going. Then you have to look at it from a moral side. If you went into the supermarket today and bought some strawberry jam and you got peanut butter you'd probably be a bit pissed off. It's good quality peanut butter, but he's saying it isn't what he bought.
“Whether the contract describes what he'd bought, the strawberry jam with so many strawberries, I don't know. I doubt it. I think he bought the FIA Formula One World Championship. Which is what he's got,” Ecclestone concluded.