Mercedes’ ’trumpet’ exhaust made a questionable debut on Wednesday.
"Looks like Mercedes have put a vuvuzela on the back of their car," Reuters’ Alan Baldwin wryly observed.
Questionable aesthetics aside, attention then turned to whether the exhaust extension, also dubbed a ’megaphone’ by the press, did indeed turn up the volume.
"So far no good news concerning the sound," reported German television RTL’s Florian Koenig.
BBC correspondent Andrew Benson agreed that the initial reaction from fans was "almost totally negative".
The German journalist Bianca Garloff opined: "In my view, the new sound is even worse", while Sky’s Rachel Brookes reported she heard "no audible difference".
Audio footage of the trumpet-equipped Nico Rosberg’s W05 can be heard below.
Speed Week correspondent Mathias Brunner said the ’trumpet’ was removed from Rosberg’s car for the afternoon session.