Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg gets a pit service during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Emilio Morenatti / AP / May 11, 2014
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg gets a pit service during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Emilio Morenatti / AP / May 11, 2014
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg gets a pit service during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Emilio Morenatti / AP / May 11, 2014
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg gets a pit service during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Emilio Morenatti / AP / May 11, 2014

Having solved F1 field, Mercedes offer noise solution too


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Mercedes may have the answer for Formula One fans longing for more engine noise in the new V6 era and they are ready to sound off about it.

The season’s dominant team, runaway winners of all five races so far, will try a new ‘megaphone’ type exhaust at a test in Barcelona this week as the sport seeks a solution to a problem of its own making.

“I’m sure everybody is looking forward to hearing what the ‘megaphone’ is going to be like,” Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff told reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix won by Lewis Hamilton – his fourth successive victory – on Sunday.

“We’re pretty clear – if the fans want to have more noise, and if it’s making the car not only sound better but it’s perceived to be in a better and more attractive way, then we’ll go for it.”

The sound of the new V6 turbo hybrid engines, which have replaced the screaming old V8s this year, provided an immediate controversy when the season started in Australia in March and has divided the paddock.

Some of the race promoters, who flew in from around the world to meet in Barcelona on Saturday, have called for more noise and fear ticket sales could fall off if fans are alienated by the lack of decibels.

While Formula One’s 83–year–old commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone agrees with them, the quieter turbos also have their supporters in the paddock – particularly among the technical boffins.

They argue that increasing the noise goes against the greener spirit of the regulation change which is to reduce wasted energy from the exhaust and brakes and harness it to make the cars go faster.

“Some of what we are experiencing with respect to the noise is that it (the new power unit) does what it says on the tin: It uses less energy, and it does so more efficiently so there’s less falling out of the back as noise,” Renault F1 deputy managing director Rob White told Reuters.

“I don’t sign up to the opinion that they sound horrible. I feel there is a positive message that has kind of got drowned out,” he added.

The old V8s had twin exhausts whereas the new V6 power unit has a sole tailpipe whose dimensions are the subject of detailed regulations.

Any change will have to be signed off by all teams before it can be implemented and that is only likely if it is clear that performance of the engine is not affected.

“As long as you don’t do silly things, there may be some potential to make a modest adjustment that makes them a bit louder and sound a bit nicer without in any way compromising the fundamental objectives,” said White.

“But this is F1 and there are unintended consequences to be careful of all over the place.

“My short to medium concern is that we mustn’t be put in a situation where we take a performance hit relative to our competitors, directly or indirectly as a result of this subject,” he added.

Renault, engine partners to champions Red Bull and three other teams, have been on the back foot since the start of the season and are fighting to catch up with Mercedes.

They have also been working with the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) on the acoustic side while Mercedes have shared their initial results from a factory test of the ‘megaphone’ device.

Being Formula One, raising the volume is not that simple.

While a long device like a medieval English horn accentuates the lower frequencies, a jazz trumpet–like solution favours the higher ones. Neither are ideal when put on the back of a racing car where a millimetre can make all the difference.

Wolff, who sees the new power units and their cutting–edge technology as the way forward, suggested the fans might ultimately have to change their mindset and move with the times even if that meant other series such as GP2 or GP3 being louder.

“It’s an interesting moment in time for Formula One,” mused the Austrian. “Traditionally you would have said... that Formula One needs to be loud to be spectacular. Maybe now that’s changing.

“Maybe the future is going to be the most powerful cars are not going to be the most noisy ones. It’s about technology.”

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A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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The National selections

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Uefa Champions League final:

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