Formula One testing is underway, and that means we get to listen to the buzz of 1.6 liter V6s turbocharged unto infinity once more. But there’s one thing I want to compare them all to.
Listening just to the 2018 cars against other 2018 cars is reasonably interesting, as some engines really do have a bit more tone than others.
But the same YouTube uploader that put this up, 19Bozzy92, also recently put up video of one of the icons of F1's last turbo era, the Brabham BT52.
These arrow-shaped cars held possibly the most powerful engines in F1 history, BMW’s 1.5 liter four-cylinder turbocharged well above 1,000 horsepower in qualifying trim.
Also that aaaaaaaalmost looks like a modern windscreen proposal on that parmalat-branded Brabham. Almost
Since I’m here listening to old F1 cars, I might as well throw in a V6 from that turbo era. This is a Williams FW11, which took the constructors’ title in 1986 and 1987 as well as the drivers’ title in 1987 in FW11B spec. It’s a Honda V6, 1.5 liters turbocharged.
It’s interesting to hear how the sounds compare after all these years.