Mostly because of the very efficient turbo and MGU-H in the exhaust system, extracting a large amount of the energy that would have gone in to noise if the pipes were open.
Currently, the sport functions under regulations which ensure that all teams are powered by a four-stroke 1.6-litre hybrid turbocharged V6 engine. This is generally less loud than older generation cars, something that is quite disappointing for die-hard fans who enjoy the thrills of the noise at live racing events.
“Now we've got a single turbine wheel that's recovering a lot of energy from the exhaust; and as soon as you recover the energy, you have reduced the sound. So it is the fact that we are recovering waste energy that is making it quieter.”
The loudest-ever F1 car is recorded as the silver W02, which registered at 127.8 decibels from engine rev alone. This is an impressive feat, given the fact that most F1 cars only reach sounds of 140 decibels with other factors included, such as the wind motion caused by their momentum while in motion.
The silver W02 registered 127.8 decibels, which is louder than the average human pain threshold, and nearly as loud as a military jet aircraft take-off with afterburner at 15 metres.
They shouldn't look at the crowd.
It's hard to miss thousands of screaming fans, but staying focused on the road is crucial. That said, some drivers have said they can hear the roar of the crowd over their engines.
While many other teams weren't very far behind in their power figures, the BMW M12/13/1 of 1986, which powered the Benetton, Brabham, and Arrows teams, remains the most powerful engine Formula 1 has ever seen.
Drag racing: The loudest sport. THREE OLD LADIES ARE RIDING ON A BUS. The first says to her friends, "It sure is windy."
Nope. Even if it was theoretically possible, a sport based on public attendance and TV broadcasting cannot wreak havoc with people's eardrums.
F1's power-unit regulations for 2026 season get mixed reactions from fans. While some fans were on board with the new Formula 1 power unit regulations, others were not too happy and vented their frustrations on Twitter. "So in other words a smaller engine. Can't believe F1 cars will sound like a tuned out Honda civic."
Soaring viewership means the sport is also reaching new audiences. The 2021 season, which featured one of the most thrilling championship battles in history, averaged 949,000 U.S. viewers, according to ESPN. The 2022 season beat that by 28%, topping 1 million viewers on average per race for the first time.
The issue with the naturally aspirated V8s was that it was an outdated technology. Ecosystems and automotive manufacturers all across the globe had already started moving towards electric energy. Consequently, this engine formula seemed outdated at best and needed to be upgraded.
The appeal of the Judd V-10 is fairly straightforward: It sounds like a late-Nineties Formula 1 car. This is no coincidence. Judd made its name building exceptional V-8s and V-10s that were used in both F1 and CART.
Formula 1 vehicles frequently have a large bore/stroke ratio, resulting in high engine output (and thus more power) as well as fast engine speeds. It is typical for Formula 1 cars to have a 2.5 bore-to-stroke ratio.
According to SkySports:
To put 140 dB in perspective, it is roughly the same sound intensity produced by standing near a turbine engine found on modern jet aircraft, it will produce intense pain in only a few minutes.
To date, only one land vehicle has officially travelled at supersonic speed, the ThrustSSC. The vehicle, driven by Andy Green, holds the world land speed record, having achieved an average speed on its bi-directional run of 1,228 km/h (763 mph) in the Black Rock Desert on 15 October 1997.
Thrust SSC holds the world land speed record, set on 15 October 1997, and driven by Andy Green, when it achieved a speed of 1,228 km/h (763 mph) and became the first land vehicle to officially break the sound barrier.
What is the number one fastest car in the world? The fastest production car in the world in terms of projected figures (before an official run has been made) is the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, with a calculated top speed target of over 310mph.
NASCAR cars in every series are louder than the current F1 cars. The cars will sound exactly the same.
F1 races typically reach 140 decibels, just below the level that causes permanent hearing loss.
A whisper is about 30 dB, normal conversation is about 60 dB, and a motorcycle engine running is about 95 dB. Noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time may start to damage your hearing.
So it's official. A Formula 1 car is faster than a V8 Supercar and a superbike. A lot faster. In the ultimate race of the fastest machines on four and two wheels, the Formula 1 car, driven by Aussie ace Mark Webber, destroyed the V8 and bike in a head-to-head battle at Sydney Motorsport Park today.
Ferrari has manufactured three naturally-aspirated V8 racing engines, designed for Formula One racing.
Objects in Mirror: The Mercedes-AMG W11 Is the Fastest F1 Car of All Time.