Charlie Whiting, Formula One’s long-serving race director, has died on the eve of the 2019 season.
The 66-year-old suffered a pulmonary embolism in Melbourne where he was due to officiate the curtain-raiser of the new season.
FIA president Jean Todt led the tributes to the former chief engineer, saying he “embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport”.
It is with immense sadness that I learned of Charlie Whiting’s passing. He was a central & inimitable figure who embodied the ethics & spirit of motor sport. @F1 has lost a faithful friend & a charismatic ambassador. All my thoughts & those of @FIA go out to his family & friends pic.twitter.com/RhCR1M5rJL — Jean Todt (@JeanTodt) March 14, 2019
Whiting’s entry into Formula One came as part of the Hesketh Racing team in 1977, but it was through his work at Brabham that he made his name.
As chief mechanic for the outfit owned by Bernie Ecclestone, he played an integral role in the championships won by Nelson Piquet in 1981 and 1983.
After leaving Brabham in 1988, Whiting moved on to serve as FIA technical delegate and then became FIA director and safety delegate from 1997.
Within this role, he was responsible for starting races as well as being the man teams would speak to about a variety of matters over the race weekend.
We are shocked and saddened to hear of Charlie Whiting’s passing and our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues. pic.twitter.com/gRDunCfb72 — Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 14, 2019
Todt said: “It is with immense sadness that I learned of Charlie’s sudden passing.
“I have known Charlie Whiting for many years and he has been a great Race Director, a central and inimitable figure in Formula One who embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport.
“Formula 1 has lost a faithful friend and a charismatic ambassador in Charlie.
“All my thoughts, those of the FIA and entire motor sport community go out to his family, friends, and all Formula One lovers.”
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. The sport will unite to continue his legacy, not just this weekend, but well into the future. [2/2] — Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) March 14, 2019
Meanwhile, Ross Brawn, Formula 1 managing director of motorsports, said he was “devastated”.
He added: “I have known Charlie for all of my racing life.
“We worked as mechanics together, became friends and spent so much time together at race tracks across the world.
“I was filled with immense sadness when I heard the tragic news.
“It is a great loss not only for me personally but also the entire Formula 1 family, the FIA and motorsport as a whole. All our thoughts go out to his family.”
I’m deeply saddened to hear the news of Charlie Whiting's passing. Such a huge figure in the world of motorsport. All of my thoughts are with his family and his many friends right now. We’ll all miss him very much. https://t.co/yX8RqMixvF — George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) March 14, 2019
Other figures from the sport have also paid tribute.
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said Whiting was “a man with great integrity who performed a difficult role in a balanced way”.
He added: “Charlie was a great man who will be sadly missed by the entire Formula 1 paddock and the wider motorsport community.”
The Renault F1 team tweeted: “Charlie was one of the pillars and leaders of the sport. His drive to ensure exciting, safe and fair racing was unparalleled and his passion will be sorely missed.”
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