Formula 1 pays tribute to Charlie Whiting
Formula 1 pays tribute to Charlie Whiting
The entire Formula 1 community paid warm tributes to Charlie Whiting on Thursday after the FIA race director suddenly died aged 66. Whiting was in Melbourne to undertake his usual duties at the 2019 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but died of a pulmonary embolism.
News of Whiting's passing naturally came as a tremendous shock, with Sebastian Vettel confirming during Thursday's drivers' press conference that he had spoken with the Briton just the day before.
"I was as shocked as we all are still now, when I heard the news this morning," Vettel said. "Especially because I spoke to him yesterday and walked the track for the first couple of corners together with him.
"[It is] difficult to grasp when somebody is just not there anymore."
Vettel remembered Whiting as "the driver's man", while Lewis Hamilton hailed him as "a pillar… an iconic figure in the sporting world."
Max Verstappen had spent part of his off-season with Whiting during his FIA-mandated 'public service', saying of the experience: "We had a good chat, just about a lot of things.
"When I left at the time, I was like 'see you in Australia for another season of racing' and when you hear this news it's just unbelievable."
Verstappen's boss Christian Horner said in a statement: "Charlie has played a key role in this sport and has been the referee and voice of reason as Race Director for many years.
"He was a man with great integrity who performed a difficult role in a balanced way. At heart, he was a racer with his origins stretching back to his time at Hesketh and the early days of Brabham."
SOCIAL MEDIA TRIBUTES
"He was a great man, he did an amazing job for F1 over the years"
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 14, 2019
Kimi pays tribute to Charlie Whiting#AusGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/BCosEiw1aW
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
Toto Wolff: "I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Charlie's passing this morning. He was a pillar of our Formula One family - balanced in his approach, subtle in his understanding and always with the interests of Formula One as his main focus. pic.twitter.com/20XQLhm1Op
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) March 14, 2019
The whole motorsport family will miss you. Thanks for everything you did Charlie! R.I.P ???? pic.twitter.com/UUm4diOoZE
— Pierre Gasly ???????? (@PierreGASLY) March 14, 2019
"I'm incredibly shocked... he contributed so much to us"#AusGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/icNOruHgze
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 14, 2019
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey Red Bull EXIT date revealed as F1 star confirmed at new team - GPFans F1 Recap
- 1 hour ago
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- 2 hours ago
Marko defends Ricciardo in 'unbelievable' idiot claim
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton hints at sensational Newey arrival at Ferrari
- Yesterday 20:57
Suspended Red Bull employee 'grilled' as Horner saga given potential END DATE
- Yesterday 19:57
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
Verstappen backs plans to replace Whiting
Whiting's role again filled by Masi in Bahrain
Several candidates in search for Whiting's replacement
F1 teams will assist FIA after Whiting passing
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860