Paul Jeffrey
Premium
Formula One is in mourning today following the shock news that long time Race Director Charlie Whiting has passed away.
Confirmed to have died while in Australia preparing for the opening round of the new Formula One season, Whiting will be replaced in his role at Melbourne by Michael Masi, who has previously enjoyed spells as Race Director for the Australian V8 Supercars and the Super2 support category, as well as having had involvement in Formula E..
Whiting, 66, has been a part of the Formula One circus for much of his professional life, having started out in the sport with the popular Hesketh team in 1977. For the 88 season Whiting would play an important role on the pit wall with Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team during a golden period for the squad, resulting in numerous race victories and two World Championships for Nelson Piquet in their 80’s hay day, before moving over to the other side of the fence and joining the organizational side of the sport for the 1988 season.
FIA President Jean 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 1 lovers.”
"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 1 lovers.”
Ross Brawn, Managing Director, Motorsports, Formula 1 said: “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. I’m devastated. 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 was filled with immense sadness when I heard the tragic news. I’m devastated. 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.”
Having earned a reputation as an astute operator and someone with whom the teams could trust for advice and guidance, Whiting would be an ever present figure within the paddock over the next three decades.
RaceDepartment offers its sincere condolences to Charlie’s family and friends at this difficult time.
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