On the sudden death of Charlie Whiting: Who will now switch the lights to green?
Can the new F1 season really get underway in Australia on Sunday in the absence of its long-serving starter?
Briton Charlie Whiting died in his hotel room in Melbourne on Thursday night (March 14, 2019) at the age of just 66 following a pulmonary embolism. Whiting had been the official FIA Race Director since 1997 and was therefore responsible for all starts and stops. In Charlie, the FIA has lost its most important and experienced man and it will not be easy to replace him.
Picture: The world champion team of 1981 and 83, Charlie Whiting (far right in the picture) with Herbie Blash and Nelson Piquet in the Brabham
Jean Todt on the death of Charlie: "Death has taken a great friend from us. He was a great race director and a central and unique figure in the Formula 1 world who embodied the spirit and morals of the sport. Formula 1 has lost a loyal friend and a charismatic ambassador."
Charlie was born in Sevenoaks, a stone's throw from Brands-Hatch, and began wrenching in touring cars with his brother Nick. He joined F1 back in 1977 as a mechanic with Hesketh. He later managed Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team and was also Marc Surer's race engineer. He became world champion with Nelson Piquet in 1981 and 1983. His brother Nick retired from racing and began trading in spare parts for racing cars. But he was murdered in 1990.
In 1988, Charlie was employed as a technical delegate by the world governing body. As a mechanic of many years' standing, he now knew all the teams' tricks and with his help the FIA set up a control team to check compliance with the rules. In 1997, he made his last major promotion to FIA race director and head of the Grand Prix.
Picture: Three FIA managers among themselves: Charlie Whiting (center) with Herbie Blash (left) and Bernd Mailänder (right)
Formula 1 is shocked, Vettel tells the Swiss daily Blick: "He was our father on the track. He was a great guy and a real racer. His death is a great loss." Perez says: "As a driver, you were called to Charlie if there were any problems. But he always remained peaceful and friendly and calmly gave you his opinion." Robert Kubica: "His door was always open for us."
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