F1 Q&A: Insights on Piastri, Norris, Hamilton, McLaren, Ferrari, Race Penalties, and the Engine Controversy

Okay, so let’s just dive headfirst into this whole noise obsession thing. Seriously, why do folks want to crank the decibels up until your ears scream for mercy? I stumbled into a Grand Prix back in the ’90s — and wow, that racket was no joke. Like, why do people glorify the deafening engine roars as if it were the second coming? Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like today’s engines are whisper-quiet or anything. But hey, it’s Ash’s question we’re tackling here, not mine.

Now, FIA boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem — he’s had this wild idea bouncing around about bringing back those roaring V10 engines. He was shooting for sometime before, oh I dunno, the end of the next engine life cycle, maybe 2028 or so? But as predictable as a cat ignoring you, the engine makers weren’t on board with it. So that idea’s thrown way off the track, into the so-called long grass. Where it might stay forever, who knows?

Anyway — or should I say, backing up a bit — the bigwigs are still jawing about engines, trying to stay ahead of the curve while waiting on the new rules next year. It sounds like they’re sticking with 1.6-liter turbo hybrids. But here’s the kicker: they want the electrical bits to pack 50% of the punch. That’s a huge leap from the current 20%. It’s like trying to fit an elephant into a Mini Cooper.

The thought of some stripped-down engine setup possibly, maybe, getting tossed into the mix pushes things further down the line — like 2029? More likely somewhere in the early ’30s. That’s when they’re due for a new engine rulebook anyway.

What’s set in stone? Hybrid for sure. But just how it’s gonna shake out — the size, cylinder count, turbocharger presence, hybrid power balance — is like trying to predict next month’s weather. If you’re a betting person, a V8 with some hybrid wizardry (20-30%, give or take) swirls around as a possibility.

Let’s face it, a turbo slaps everything into efficient mode, but — and it’s a big but — it messes with that deep-throated engine noise purists drool over. Some folks think the noise from ’90s and ’00s engines is “music” — more like a rock concert from another dimension — but do all fans feel this way? Who knows, honestly.

Flash forward to now, and F1’s fanbase has been changing quicker than fashion trends. Younger crowds, loads more women, and families with kids running amok too. They might not be so keen on engines that demand earplugs and render any conversation utterly pointless. And let’s not forget the suits schmoozing in the VIP boxes — how do they like it?

If you ask me, it feels like a bunch of decision-makers are stuck pining for the past, making choices through nostalgia-tinted glasses without really doing their homework. I mean, shouldn’t they dive into some solid research before popping on their rose-colored hats?

Take Fernando Alonso, for instance. He’s got some rings in the V10 and V8 wrestling ring, and he had a field day showing off his 2005 Renault at the 2020 Abu Dhabi GP. He had this crowd-pleasing spin, tossing the car about — pure joy to watch. You’d think he’d be all for those loud engines roaring back. Instead, his take might surprise you.

His words were like, “Yeah, the V8 and V10 sounds, they’re epic, and sure, those are some standout Formula 1 memories for me. But the world marches on, and tech has, too.” He’s on board with whatever the sport chooses, but warns against clinging to nostalgia without acknowledging the reality of our 21st-century world. A bit of a head-scratcher, but it makes you think, huh?