Button blasts noise detractors

JENSON BUTTON has delivered a damning response to any Formula One driver bemoaning the sport's current lack of noise.

The piercing scream of the old 2.4-litre V8 engines has been replaced by the more textural sound of the new 1.6-litre V6 turbo-charged power units, and it has caused a considerable furore.

Following the Australian Grand Prix race chairman Ron Walker was left fuming, suggesting he had grounds for a lawsuit as he felt the lack of sound compromised his contract with Bernie Ecclestone.

Many fans also complained during and after the event at Melbourne's Albert Park, with the Australians far from complimentary.

There have been calls for change to return to the visceral sound at least of the V8s, although obviously not the engines themselves.

For others, the V6 noise is simply another era of F1 - as many have come and gone in the past - and is something that will eventually be accepted.

As far as the experienced Button is concerned, the critics should stop whining or get out of F1.

Asked for his opinion on the subject, Button was unequivocal as he said: "Go and race something else if you're not happy.

"As drivers we don't have an opinion where the cars are in terms of sound and feel.

"But when you cross the finish line first you've won a grand prix, so you don't care what the car sounds like or what it looks like.

"You've beaten the best in the world, and that's all you care about."

The question to Button was not by way of response to Sebastian Vettel's choice remarks as the reigning world champion is one of those detractors, particularly after experiencing it first hand - like a fan - at Albert Park.

With his race over after a handful of laps, Vettel joined team boss Christian Horner and chief technical officer Adrian Newey on the pit wall to offer his valuable insight.

What Vettel heard, however, did not impress the 26-year-old German as he said: "It's s***!

"I was on the pit wall during the race - it's better than in the bar! That's my opinion and I think for the fans as well.

"Formula One has to be spectacular and the sound is one of the most important things.

"When I was a small child, I don't remember much, but I remember when I was six years old and we went to see the cars live during free practice.

"The one thing I remember was the sound, how loud they were, to feel the cars through the ground and the whole ground was vibrating.

"It's a shame you don't have that."

By Ian Parkes, Press Association