FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[darwin dali]

Paddy Lowe sets the record straight re. spirit of the rules (context: Mercedes duct).

ESPNF1
[...]
He said the legality depended on how the rules are interpreted and that it did not matter whether it was in the spirit of the regulations or not.

"There's no such thing as the spirit of the rules," Lowe added. "It's a term often used, but the rulebook is a set of texts that have a meaning and you decide what that means and you work to them. There's no headline regulation that says 'And above all else, you've got to maintain the spirit of what was intended."
[...]

[spankyham]

Paddy Lowe sets the record straight re. spirit of the rules (context: Mercedes duct).

ESPNF1
[...]
He said the legality depended on how the rules are interpreted and that it did not matter whether it was in the spirit of the regulations or not.

"There's no such thing as the spirit of the rules," Lowe added. "It's a term often used, but the rulebook is a set of texts that have a meaning and you decide what that means and you work to them. There's no headline regulation that says 'And above all else, you've got to maintain the spirit of what was intended."
[...]

Strange that wasn't said in 2006 when Ferrari's rear wing (which passed every FiA test) was banned mid season. Can't find a quote but seem to recall the FiA saying it was banned because it breached the "spirit" of the law, or something like that. [edit] or they might have used that "spirit" excuse when they banned the Ferrari floor (which also passed every FiA test)

[bud]

Paddy doesn't work for the FIA. He is talking from a designer perspective not a regulators. The latter would say there is the spirit of the rules to take into consideration.

[racechick]

The FIA like a little flexibility of interpretation, so they can retain some control. Hangover from the power crazed days. Its like 'Bringing the sport into disrepute'. They decide what constitutes 'disrepute'. Apparantly being on the front page of a daily rag with your pants down being whipped by a whore is fine.

[spankyham]

The FIA like a little flexibility of interpretation, so they can retain some control. Hangover from the power crazed days. Its like 'Bringing the sport into disrepute'. They decide what constitutes 'disrepute'. Apparantly being on the front page of a daily rag with your pants down being whipped by a whore is fine.

Phew, that's me safe then

[What's Burning?]

The FIA like a little flexibility of interpretation, so they can retain some control. Hangover from the power crazed days. Its like 'Bringing the sport into disrepute'. They decide what constitutes 'disrepute'. Apparantly being on the front page of a daily rag with your pants down being whipped by a whore is fine.

That's one of the Dungeon's most sought after services!

[racechick]

[vaptin]

Didn't we all agree this in 2009?

[scotty]

"There's no such thing as the spirit of the rules," Lowe added. "It's a term often used, but the rulebook is a set of texts that have a meaning and you decide what that means and you work to them. There's no headline regulation that says 'And above all else, you've got to maintain the spirit of what was intended."

Although as with everything, this only applies when the boot fits, same for when things are the other way round.

[What's Burning?]

"There's no such thing as the spirit of the rules," Lowe added. "It's a term often used, but the rulebook is a set of texts that have a meaning and you decide what that means and you work to them. There's no headline regulation that says 'And above all else, you've got to maintain the spirit of what was intended."

Although as with everything, this only applies when the boot fits, same for when things are the other way round.

I think the no spirit of the rule phrase is generally only said right after... now why didn't we think of that?

[darwin dali]

Just wanted to put it out there for future reference

[bud]

"There's no such thing as the spirit of the rules. It's a term often used, but the rulebook is text that has a meaning - you decide what that means and how you work to it. There's no headline regulation that says 'above all else, you've got to remain within the spirit of what was intended,'" he argued.

"If you look at the system on the Mercedes, you could get into arguments there about whether it's in the spirit of what was intended with DRS. Well, it definitely wasn't. DRS was created as a rear-wing flap, it wasn't anything else.

"The debate around whether or not they can keep that system on the car is not about whether it is in that spirit or not, it's about whether the text of the regulations means they cannot."

[stonemonkey]

Just wanted to put it out there for future reference

Do you know something?

"There's no such thing as the spirit of the rules. It's a term often used, but the rulebook is text that has a meaning - you decide what that means and how you work to it. There's no headline regulation that says 'above all else, you've got to remain within the spirit of what was intended,'" he argued.

"If you look at the system on the Mercedes, you could get into arguments there about whether it's in the spirit of what was intended with DRS. Well, it definitely wasn't. DRS was created as a rear-wing flap, it wasn't anything else.

"The debate around whether or not they can keep that system on the car is not about whether it is in that spirit or not, it's about whether the text of the regulations means they cannot."

But it is a risk, sometimes loopholes going against the spirit can be closed.

[f1ea]

The FIA like a little flexibility of interpretation, so they can retain some control. Hangover from the power crazed days. Its like 'Bringing the sport into disrepute'.

Its like their joker card......