Sky Creative partnered with Absolute to record bespoke engine sounds at Formula One’s Barcelona pre-season test

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Sky Creative and Absolute creative director of Sound, Ian ‘Arge’ Hargest (pictured left) joined forces to capture the energy and innovative engineering of Formula One for Sky Sports’ 2026/27 title sequence.

Together, they faced a challenge that went beyond the visual. The new cars don’t just look different - they sound different too.

Each team’s engine carries a distinct new sonic signature, and this wasn’t something that could simply be recreated.

“The fans would know if we just used any old car from previous seasons,” says Arge. “They were already starting to recognise what the new cars sounded like from leaked social media clips, so we couldn’t get it wrong.”

To ensure authenticity, Arge collaborated with Sky Creative and Formula One to capture bespoke recordings during the first pre-season test in Barcelona. With every team present, it offered an opportunity to document the full spectrum of engine sounds.

These recordings became the foundation of the title sequence, with Arge pairing each one to its corresponding car frame-by-frame, ensuring every team was accurately represented and that sound and visuals were seamlessly synchronised.

“The recordings gave us the raw material, but the real challenge began back in the studio,” says Arge. “We had to make sure not just that the team matched, but that the way each engine behaved – through acceleration and deceleration – aligned perfectly with the animation.”

“As always, we wanted to make sure the cars sounded great too,” he adds. “With every F1 project, there’s that conversation about how they haven’t quite sounded the same since the old V12 era. So we always have that added challenge, to make everything feel both authentic and exciting.”

Importantly, engine sound carries cultural weight among fans. Arge explains: “F1 fans have a relationship with engine sound that goes back decades. It’s visceral, it’s emotional. People remember exactly what each era sounded like. When you’re marking a new chapter, you have a responsibility to document it properly. These cars are the start of something new - and I wanted the titles to reflect that.”

Sky Sports creative director Harry Ward, adds: “’When craft and detail matter, Arge always delivers world-class sound design – no shortcuts”.

Along with the title sequence, Arge also created the sound for Sky’s F1 advertising campaign.