F1’s Current Engines Sound Way More Varied Than You’d Expect

The video by 19Bozzy92 was taken over the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza, the perfect circuit to showcase the diverse and meaty sound of the V6 Turbo F1 engines.

It’s six minutes of glorious engine noise comparisons, with each manufacturer (Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda) showcasing their own unique sound. The difference in noise is present for a variety of reasons, from engine layout to the fuel used, gear ratios, the exhaust layout, age of components and other smaller details.

What’s even more surprising, though, is that cars using the same engine sound different too. Take the Mercedes W07 and Force India VJM09 as examples. You can tell from the noise produced that the cars both use Mercedes engines, but there’s a noticeable difference.

Like the variance in sound depending on the manufacturers, the unique tune from each car is down to a combination of factors – teams use different oil and fuel types and age of components can have a minor impact too.

The most significant, though, is the layout of the exhaust, which is different for each car – for 2016 teams are allowed one tailpipe for the turbine and up to two for the wastegate. These can be positioned however the teams want and impact the noise produced.