F1 teams will assist FIA after Whiting passing

Formula 1 teams will assist the FIA in any measures they look to implement following the sudden death of long-serving race director Charlie Whiting, says Haas team principal Guenther Steiner. Whiting died of a pulmonary embolism in his Melbourne hotel room on Wednesday night.

Whiting's deputy, Michael Masi, has been named as his replacement for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Steiner confirmed that F1's teams had a duty to ease the transition following Whiting's death.

"Whatever the FIA decides this weekend, the teams will support it," he said. "We can do little to help, but we can do that.

"It will take some time for the Federation to restructure everything, but this weekend, if we can help with something, we definitely will."

The 1996 world champion Damon Hill said Whiting, who was 66, will be "extremely difficult if not impossible to replace".

Valtteri Bottas confirmed that Whiting was "very important" for the sport and the drivers.

"If we had concerns about anything, like the curbs or the marshals or anything, he always reacted. He had a huge impact on formula one," said the Mercedes driver.

"At the moment it's hard to imagine who can do all of this instead of Charlie, but I am sure there will soon be a plan."

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