Ricciardo: The engine sound used to be cool and scary

Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali unexpectedly announced that Formula 1 could abandon the hybrid power plant and return to naturally aspirated engines in 2030. At a press conference in Imola, Daniel Ricciardo was asked to remember what naturally aspirated 2.4-litre V8 engines looked like in Formula 1 before 2014.

Daniel Ricciardo: “When I started racing in Formula 1, the engine was much louder. You were literally waiting for him to start behind your back. And when this happened, there was a feeling of something like a tingling in the spine. Maybe in my case these feelings came from the fact that I had no experience and was still afraid of Formula 1. But when the engine started working, it was scary.

I don’t know if I would have such impressions if I were to make my debut in Formula 1 now, because we have a different engine that sounds very different. But sound was an important part of that engine. He sounded like a wild animal about to break free. So I remember this feeling clearly. It was scary.

But as soon as you hit the track, this bike was in its element and you felt comfortable behind the wheel. In the pits you expected the launch and understood that everything would soon become very serious. It was a cool and scary feeling.”