Organizers of the Australian GP think that "the quieter noise produced by the new V6 engines could be in breach of their F1 contract" and have complained to F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, according to William Esler of SKY SPORTS. Amid criticism from fans about F1's new quieter soundtrack, Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott has said that "the lack of noise had taken away from the spectacle at Albert Park" and that AGPC Chair Ron Walker had already expressed his concerns to Ecclestone. Westacott said, "One aspect of it was just a little bit duller than it's ever been before and that's part of the mix and the chemistry that they're going to have to get right. We pay for a product, we've got contracts in place, we are looking at those very, very seriously because we reckon there has probably been some breaches" (SKY SPORTS, 3/17).
A NEW SOUND: The PA's Ian Parkes reported Walker has described Ecclestone as being "horrified" at the sport's new quieter era. The screaming sound of the old V8 engine has gone, "and in its place is a huskier decibel level, complete with whistles and whirrs from the turbo." It "is a sound Ecclestone knew long ago would not be right for F1, even before the first car hit the track in testing in January" (PA, 3/17). The ABC reported team principals of the major F1 outfits "shrugged off the change at Albert Park, saying fans would get used to it." F1 management "was unable to provide immediate comment." The Singapore office of private equity group CVC Capital, the largest shareholder in F1, "declined to comment when contacted and referred enquiries to their London office, which was closed." The Victorian Government "has yet to sign an extension to the Grand Prix contract." A spokesperson for Victorian Sport & Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty said that "the Government wanted to keep the race and that only cost would be a consideration" (ABC, 3/17). In London, Tom Cary reported Ecclestone said he will look into how F1 can make the new machines sound "more like race cars." Ecclestone said a modification "could be made after just a few races if it was technically possible." Ecclestone: “We can’t wait all season. It could be too late by then” (TELEGRAPH, 3/17).
ON THE LEGAL FRONT: In Melbourne, Peter Rolfe reported Australian GP chiefs "are considering legal action against Formula One management in the wake of the controversial disqualification of home hero Daniel Ricciardo from the Melbourne race." With Ricciardo on Monday vowing to fight the decision to strip him of his second place in his GP debut, Westacott said that "a courtroom stoush was possible." A case may be made against changes made to the sport for this season, including new V6 engines and a new fuel restriction which led to Ricciardo’s ban. Ricciardo’s disqualification "angered fans and robbed the Grand Prix Corporation of its proudest moment with an Australian on the podium for the first time and the nation embracing its latest sporting hero" (HERALD SUN, 3/17). In Sydney, Michael Lynch wrote Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said that "the team would certainly appeal," although by Monday afternoon, int'l automobile federation sources said that "there had been no official appeal lodged." They did confirm that the team had served notice of its intention to do so and it is understood Red Bull "now has 96 hours" to formally table its appeal. An FIA source said, ''It's not possible to say when it will be heard. It depends on how quickly both parties can prepare their cases. There is no set timetable but it will most likely be heard in Paris" -- the home of the FIA's headquarters (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/17).
