Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has described the sport’s new green era, spearheaded by the introduction of turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 power units, as “a total farce”.

This week, Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault have trialled their latest creations at the opening Jerez test, but the latter manufacturer has endured a string of early technical troubles, greatly restricting mileage.

Adding to the reliability concerns, drivers have expressed disappointment over the sound of the new engines, with Force India driver Nico Hülkenberg likening the noise to Germany’s touring car championship, the DTM.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ecclestone explained: “I said it was going to be like this – a total farce. They [the FIA and the teams] insisted on these new engines. If they wanted to race like this they should go to Le Mans.

“They talk about saving fuel. They don’t need these new engines to achieve that. They should get smaller motorhomes. Then they wouldn’t need so many trucks going all round Europe. Mercedes are taking 23 trucks with them everywhere. If they really wanted to save fuel they should stop that.

“The whole thing with the new engines is totally absurd. People want noise – something special, that’s what F1 is all about – and now we have quiet engines and nobody on the track.”

After the Jerez test, teams have two more gatherings in Bahrain to prepare to the opening race in Australia.