The Mercedes is the loudest formula one car in 2011.
That is the finding of the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, after testing the volume of this year’s field trackside in Monaco just over a week ago.
The silver W02 registered 127.8 decibels, which is louder than the average human pain threshold, and nearly as loud as a military jet aircraft take-off with afterburner at 50 feet.
The Renault comes next at 127.5 decibels, followed by McLaren-Mercedes (127.3) and Renault-powered Red Bull (127.1).
The quietest F1 car this year is the Cosworth-powered Virgin, at 125.9 decibels.
Bernie Ecclestone has cited the awesome sound of the current crop of F1 cars as his main objection to the proposed four-cylinder turbo rules for 2013.
The FIA last Friday acknowledged that the 2013 debut could be delayed.
"In consultation with the main stakeholders, and following the outcome of this consultation, a fax vote by the World Motor Sport Council could be considered by 30 June latest to redefine the implementation date", the governing body said after its Barcelona meeting.