Charlie whiting he was the race director, the one in charge of the penalties and giving the starts, in addition to making other decisions about safety when the track conditions were not opportune. In short, the one who took care of the F1 drivers, but also the one who punished them when they did something wrong with sanctions, of course with the coordination of the stewards. He is a very loved character throughout F1, and although he sometimes punished them, the drivers also loved him...
It's been many years traveling around the world together, but today sad news has ended this story. Charlie Whiting dies of pulmonary embolism at 66 years old, when he was already on the circuit, as a member of the FIA, for the 1 F2019 Australian GP. So it is a sad day for F1 and the world of motorsport in general. From the FIA, Liberty Media and from the teams or the drivers themselves separately they have already expressed their sadness and will carry details in their cars as a sign of respect and farewell for Charlie.
The social networks of all the teams and even some journalists from the motor world have been in a hustle and bustle echoing this sad news. And everything that was going to be a great start to the 1 F2019 World Championship has been made sad by this sudden and unexpected news. So this Australian GP will be very special, but unfortunately not because it is the first or because it is the beginning of an exciting season, but because we will all have Charlie in our minds and hearts.
From AM we show our condolences and we say goodbye to the 'master' who has left us this very Thursday, March 14, 2019. Many years of Whiting who have left their mark since he joined the FIA in 1988 to serve as race director in Formula 1 in 1997, and of course, without forgetting his important work as a safety delegate to check the demands for the tracks and ensure the lives of the pilots.