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."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 insider claims Adrian Newey decision set Aston Martin back months

• 24 minutes ago

Donald Trump sparked bid for New Jersey F1 race

• 2 hours ago

F1 champion hits back at Lewis Hamilton age attacks

• 3 hours ago

Toto Wolff keeps his cool after Mercedes F1 upset: 'AI could have told you that'

• Today 09:44

Fernando Alonso 'ripped door off its hinges' and 'broke crash helmet' in F1 rage over slow pace

• Today 08:58

FIA hits out at F1 manufacturers over 2026 rules after bombshell Lewis Hamilton comment

• Today 08:15