Think of the emerging markets and see where they're going. I'm afraid the 21st Century consumers know (or care little) for outmoded naturally aspirated V8's let alone the noise they make except for an idle curiosity.
The so-called 'big noise' of F1 is at best only 25 years old, the ubiquitous V8 Cosworth, one of the winningest F1 engines ever, was quite a tame sound revving to 10,500 rpm (on a good day). Ferrari was always the noisiest with their beautiful V12's.
The new F1 represents the future of automotion.
If you were at the trackside in Melbourne, you would have heard the gut wrenching shrieking of tyres rapid barking downshift and the moan and whistle of the ERS and turbo. Quite a cacophony of interesting noises, just maybe not loud enough. I still think they're only using 75% revs though.
We all like the pops bangs and thunder of traditional ICE, so we have a growing number of classic events to satisfy that need, and, unfortunately, a growing number of tracks that cannot or will not hold 'open exhaust' meetings because of local Environment considerations. Like it or not, your neighbourhood WILL get quieter.
No, on balance I would say that for all the direction that F1 has taken, is a good one for future proofing the genre, and us old redneck shade tree wrenchers had better either get used to it, or turn our back on it.
The choice is clear.
Bet you they will make them 'noisier' though!
What was your favourite engine sound? Didn't like the gruff Merc and favoured the Renault slightly over the Ferrari.
Who would have thought it?
Edit: For sure (term temporarily borrowed from F Massa), for our American friends, I'm afraid I do not believe this spectacle, in the current format, will stack up well at COTA.