Charlie Whiting
Charlie Whiting | |
|---|---|
 Whiting at the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix | |
| Born | 12 August 1952 |
| Died | 14 March 2019 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1988–2019 |
| Known for | Safety improvements in motorsport |
Charlie Whiting (12 August 1952 – 14 March 2019) was the FIA Formula One Race Director, Safety Delegate, Permanent Starter and head of the F1 Technical Department, in which capacities he generally managed the logistics of each F1 Grand Prix, inspected cars in parc fermé before a race, enforced FIA rules, and controlled the lights that start each race.
Career history
Whiting's first job in motorsport was preparing rally cars. In 1976, he and his brother were running a Surtees in the 1976 British F5000 series for race driver Divina Galica.[1] For the 1977 season Whiting joined Hesketh Racing. Following the demise of the team, he joined Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team, where he would stay for the following decade, becoming chief mechanic for the World Drivers' Championship successes of Nelson Piquet in 1981 and 1983 and later rising to chief mechanic.[2]
In 1988, Whiting became FIA Technical Delegate to Formula One and in 1997 he was appointed FIA Director and Safety Delegate.[2]
2005 United States Grand Prix
During the 2005 United States Grand Prix, Whiting was involved in a controversy caused by the tyres which Michelin had brought to Indianapolis being unsafe to use. Michelin was unable to produce new tyres with which to replace its seven customer Formula One teams' equipment and asked Whiting to install a chicane in Turn 13 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway instead. He refused on the grounds that this would be unfair to the teams who were able to race safely on the existing track.[3]
Safety improvements in motorsport
Whiting was known for safety improvements in motorsport, such as the halo, which was credited with preventing Charles Leclerc from suffering serious injury at the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix.[4] He was also responsible for introducing the headrest, safety survival cell, front and side impact structures and high cockpit sides.[5]
Death
On the morning of 14 March 2019 in Melbourne, just one day before the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix and 2019 Formula One season, Whiting suffered a pulmonary embolism and died aged 66.[6][5][7]
References
- ^ "Charlie Whiting, Formula One race director, dies aged 66". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Charlie Whiting, F1's race director, dies aged 66". Sky Sports F1. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ Charlie Whiting (18 June 2005). "Correspondence between representatives of Michelin in Indianapolis and the FIA Formula One race director". FIA. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Ransom, Ian. "F1 mourns sudden death of race director Whiting". Reuters. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ a b Jonathan Noble. "FIA F1 race director Charlie Whiting dies ahead of Australian GP". Autosport.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "FIA Statement - Charlie Whiting". FIA. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ "Charlie Whiting: F1 race director dies aged 66 on eve of season-opener in Melbourne". BBC Sport. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
External links
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