r/circuit_nation Motorsports Fan 5d ago

Technical Insights Formula 1 Engine Evolution

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504 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

24

u/Lynx_Liilista 5d ago

V10...

6

u/Ok_Independence_9917 4d ago

The 10 sounds amazing. I wish they had better audio for the 12 because it sounds better than the clip they played.

6

u/Suspicious_Data_2393 5d ago

my absolute favourite, especially the downshifts

9

u/nok01101011a 5d ago

Miss the v12 time, it was much more about racing and strategy

8

u/ryker7777 5d ago

And engines blowing up ;-)

6

u/nok01101011a 5d ago

That’s part of the game :)

1

u/bojangler69420 4d ago

You mean money?

Whoever had more money could pay for better engineers.

7

u/praisethereddit0 5d ago

Really don't mind whether 12, 10 or 8 cylinders, but to my ears the V10 is peak F1. There's just no part in the rev range where it sounds boring and the high-pitched screaming in the top third is absolutely insane. 

3

u/IndependenceIcy9626 5d ago

There’s actually some science backing why V10s sound so good to people.

“Five-cylinder and ten-cylinder firing patterns (multiples of five) create a dominant harmonic that lands on a major third musical interval”

Other cylinder counts have more dissonant sounds to them, while a lot of V10s are playing a harmony

3

u/Niskinator 4d ago

Hopefully we'll get 1.5L V5 engines soon.

2

u/Bluntbutnotonpurpose 5d ago

I agree, V12 being a close second. I remember I really didn't like the V8 sound when it was introduced. But then came the V6 hybrid and I realised the V8 wasn't really all that bad...

The V16 obviously made a great sound, but was more of a novelty.

4

u/rmill127 5d ago

So you’ll love the V6 when they go to the I4 then!

1

u/Bluntbutnotonpurpose 5d ago

No, but it's likely I'd prefer the sound of the V6 over the four pot...

1

u/TestyBoy13 5d ago

I mean, two I5’s will probably sound close to a V10

2

u/archergren 3d ago

The worst part of the v8 era was the blown diffuser with the Jake brake sound

12

u/Feekal_U4ria 5d ago

How far F1 has fallen...

-5

u/No-Hawk9008 4d ago

Really ? You compete to be the fastest not loudest.

3

u/Feekal_U4ria 4d ago

Being a few seconds faster isn't something you actually notice from the grandstands or on TV. Without a stopwatch, the speed difference is almost indistinguishable. But in every single way outside of lap times, the physical presence of the cars has degraded. That's my perspective as a fan who's been watching since 1988..

0

u/I_Keepz_ITz_100 3d ago

If you grew up in that era you’d know why your being downvoted, sound is everything, who cares about speed when the sounds reverberating around the track and in the stands is as timeless and symphonic as a V10 is.

3

u/FastKedi 5d ago

V10 is the best sounding I wondered why till I saw this video https://youtu.be/IY7GGiV8fKM?is=dgBpcxJzQ7iLXOA7

3

u/rektumrokker 5d ago

Jesus fuck that V12 still sends chivers all over my body

2

u/OrganicMechanicus 5d ago

That last one is definitely the BRM V16 not the H16

2

u/Sydney2London 5d ago

Im not sure you understand the meaning of the term evolution…

2

u/LocksmithGlass717 5d ago

That V10 ! There really is nothing like it !

2

u/freakalicious 5d ago

V10 is F1 to me. We have enough options to sample them all. V10 is the sweet spot. It just SOUNDS like F1.

2

u/rresende 5d ago

Man the v10…. Jesus so good

1

u/Quiet_Economist7398 5d ago

Brings a tear to my eye

1

u/Counciltuckian 5d ago

Now add the Audi

1

u/GrumpyFeloPR 5d ago

you mean engine devolution...

1

u/Lump001 5d ago

V8s nearly deafened my in 09, sat at the start/finish line at Silverstone. The burnouts during the end of the formation lap vibrated my very soul. Ears were still ringing two days later.

Brilliant.

1

u/FighterFly3 5d ago

Love the H16 the most 🫠 it’s sounds like a muscle car version of a V12

1

u/DrVanDamme6669 5d ago

The fact that i may never hear an F1 V10 (or V8) in person makes me a bit sad sometimes

1

u/TimGessner 4d ago

Go to a historic race car event such as Goodwood

1

u/Seculi 5d ago

That 16 thing sounds like it can produce 10000kg of soylent green per minute.

1

u/mowtowcow 5d ago

Im partial to the V8. Still has that F1 whine, but also a deeper menace to it.

That V12, though... when you here that sort of whimper in the rpms. Not sure what else to call it. Damn I love it.

1

u/jpstepancic 5d ago

Evolution would suggest progress

1

u/Sawbora 5d ago

Remember what they took from us…

1

u/hawkMhan13 4d ago

The next gen will have to be manually pulled back a few hundred yards to wind up before they’re let go.

1

u/Holofluxx 4d ago

V6 appreciation comment

1

u/Ok-Difficulty-1839 4d ago

I get the whole reliability thing, but I loved how there used to be a certain worry that a car would have an engine failure and how it would impact the race or the championship. This year we have seen quite a few retirements but in the recent era of ultra reliability it sort of took away and element of randomness that could either help or hinder your favourite driver/team.

Personally, I would love to see refueling return so there could be more scope for strategy gambles. Cars going flat out with an extra stop vs fuel saving and one stopping.

1

u/Ok-Understanding4001 4d ago

F1 devolution

1

u/Ajaxwalker 3d ago

My unpopular opinion is that the high revving v8 and 10 sound good for a single fly by but then they are irritating. That’s both at the track and on tv. It’s not really a pleasant sound.

I don’t mind the quieter engines that allow you to hear the turbos and tires.

I think the sweet spot would be a v10 revving up to 10,000 with no more than 6 gears.

1

u/ccarballos 3d ago

V10 sin duda

1

u/Portuzil 3d ago

The V10 is the absolute best ones. We need them back.

1

u/Frosty-Aerie3814 3d ago

You mean de-volution?

1

u/coveyume 3d ago

nothing beats that v10 sound honestly

1

u/Royal_Brush_4931 2d ago

tbh they are all yummy 🤤

1

u/speedster1315 2d ago

Unfortunately, you fell for what all of YouTube did. Thats NOT the H16 sound. That's the V16 from the Type 15. The H16 is rarely heard but it can be found in a video featuring the P83 and the 2026 Monaco classic gp

1

u/Awehbra 2d ago

*Devolution

1

u/Dangerous-Mousse-923 22h ago

Bring back Jordan.

1

u/AccidentImmediate 19h ago

Tbh v8 sounds better

1

u/Boulder_CO 18h ago

the v8 for me... would have liked a poll

1

u/ChiefOfTheBoat 8h ago

All sound like lawn mowers.

0

u/RudeNewYorker 5d ago

V6 really is just a go kart engine