F1 has turned up engine volume for 2015

Formula 1 appears to have turned up the volume for the 2015 season, if the first days of testing in Spain are anything to go by.

Those at the opening test at Jerez this week have noticed that the upgraded 2015-spec turbo V6 power units are definitely louder than last year's.

Schmidt said: "And the tone is more like a racing engine than a lawn mower."

Mercedes' engine boss Andy Cowell said: "I don't know why this is so, as we have definitely not done anything deliberate to make them louder."

Auto Motor und Sport speculated that the improved sound has been due to changes in exhaust length made solely for performance reasons.