Days after Ferrari teased fans with the first fire-up of its 2016 power unit, Mercedes has followed suit, giving a tantalising glimpse of the twin wastegate at the same time.

The twin wastegate, it is hoped, is the means by which the sound will be increased by as much as 25%.

"The wastegate was causing a sort of silencing of the main exhaust pipe, so by removing it from the main exhaust pipe we have less silencing going on of the main flow," explained Paddy Lower recently.

"In the last two years we have had a situation where the main exhaust goes through one tailpipe, and we have a wastegate to spill out extra pressure from the exhaust. We now have to duct that air separately through an extra tailpipe, and this is intended to make more noise.

"It will work," he promised.

Article 5.8.2 of the 2016 Technical Regulations states: "Engine exhaust systems must have only a single turbine tailpipe exit and either one or two wastegate tailpipe exits which must all be rearward facing and through which all exhaust gases must pass.

"All and only the turbine exit exhaust gases must pass through the turbine tailpipe and all and only the wastegate exhaust gases must pass through the wastegate tailpipe(s). None of the tailpipes may be contained within any of the other tailpipes."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Paul C, 18/02/2016 3:11

"Better than last year's non-sound of racing. Will the engineers ever let the cars go fast enough to make real racing sounds? My 2014 & 2015 pullback F1 models from China based on ten year old cars sound better. Keep trying. "

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2. Posted by scf1fan, 17/02/2016 21:24

"@ Ro - My question was because I didn't understand the thrust of your statement. After looking at it again, I would guess that . . . you want to watch predominantly non-road going technology being use in F1? I would like to watch potential road going technology being improved and pushed to its limits. (I.E. There is nothing unique about a 80's Cosworth in terms of todays technology.)

The noise thing is a matter of taste, but I can't quite see the hysterics about it. How important can it really be when most people need to wear earplugs or risk going deaf . . . or are listening to the races through TV speakers which limit the sound anyway. Having worked around un-muffled IC engines in the past, I can tell you that my ears still ring . . . and in the end, the important thing is still to win. "

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3. Posted by Ro, 17/02/2016 15:59

"@ scf1fan .....sorry to say this, but for the last two years the racing hasnt been much to talk about, so what does a fan hope for ? The sound is very important, The current engine should be used in endurance racing not F1"

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4. Posted by scf1fan, 17/02/2016 3:23

"@ Ro . . . You've never heard of what being used on the road? A Turbo-hybrid? Or V-10 a with nitrogen/pneumatic valve train?

That's what these teams all need to be worried about more than finishing first; how their cars sound! (Can drifting be far behind????) "

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5. Posted by Ro, 16/02/2016 16:06

"To be honest, it sounds no different. I prefer a screaming 18,000 v10 anyday. Why dont they just get rid of the hybrid engine, it will never be used on the road...."

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6. Posted by edllorca, 15/02/2016 21:15

"Many street cars sound better than that..."

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7. Posted by alejandro.torres.1991, 15/02/2016 19:46

""It will work," he promised.

Judging by the video, Paddy Lowe is now quoting McLaren's most favourite words of 2015."

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Mercedes offers brief glimpse of the sound of 2016

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