Charlie Whiting 1952-2019

Lt. Drebin · Post by **Lt. Drebin** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:43 am

Charlie Whiting passed away.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/47564762

da4an1qu1 · Post by **da4an1qu1** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:18 am

Rest in peace Charlie.

Multi69 · Post by **Multi69** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:42 am

RIP a great man

shay550 · Post by **shay550** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:57 am

RIP. He was part of the furniture of F1

oz_karter · Post by **oz_karter** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:10 am

Completely unexpected.

How very sad, he seemed to be a very respectful and respected man.

Right on the eve of the new F1 season too.

RIP Charlie.

LBET · Post by **LBET** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:16 am

Sorry to hear of Charlie's passing.

funkymonkey · Post by **funkymonkey** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:17 am

What a terrible start to 2019 season. For all the controversies, he was undeniably respected, fair, calm and controlling presence as race director, a role which suited him well.
He will be missed. As excited as I am for this season, it will be odd not seeing him flagging off the races.
R.I.P.

Blake · Post by **Blake** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:42 am

RIP, Charlie

KingVoid · Post by **KingVoid** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:50 am

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the news.

RIP

Exediron · Post by **Exediron** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:57 am

Complete shock to me when I saw this. He's been a part of the landscape for so long, it's going to feel a bit empty not seeing him there this weekend.

F1 MERCENARY · Post by **F1 MERCENARY** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:10 am

Sad news.
There’s a pic with him and Seb in the paddock from just yesterday.
Just crazy how life can end so ubruptly without warning.

RIP SIR whiting.

pendulumeffect · Post by **pendulumeffect** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:58 am

I am really shocked by this news. Mostly as I had wanted to ask Charlie one day if my Fishy Paella thread on this very forum had started the crashgate investigation. Rest In Peace Charlie, gone too soon!!

Mr-E · Post by **Mr-E** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:02 am

Really schocking news!

He will be missed by many. Rest in Peace Charlie!

Lojik · Post by **Lojik** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:27 am

RIP, Charlie. Sad news indeed.

Liket · Post by **Liket** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:48 am

No way, that's so sad.

Yellowbin74 · Post by **Yellowbin74** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:52 am

Such a shame - I didn't always agree with his rulings, but he seemed like such a great guy.

RIP Charlie.

I'm assuming this was out of the blue as he must have been in Australia?

F1 MERCENARY · Post by **F1 MERCENARY** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:56 am

Yes he was. See my post above.

Sutton · Post by **Sutton** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:47 am

so sudden and so sad.
one of the good guys in F1.
RIP Charlie.

MistaVega23 · Post by **MistaVega23** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:19 am

A complete shock when I woke up this morning. Been part of F1 since I've been following and will be missed.

Some nice tributes from the drivers, just confirming how well-respected he was in the paddock.

RIP.

stevey · Post by **stevey** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:23 am

Absolutey shocked and gutted.

RIP to one of the many unsung heroes in F1. You will be missed.

simonr23 · Post by **simonr23** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:30 am

Pulmonary embolism is the mentioned cause of death. These can easily develop from a DVT- themselves something that can develop from long-haul air travel.

If you have an achy calf/thigh in the hours/days after a long flight, feel the temperature and look for any signs of that leg looking slightly puffy/swollen. If yes, go to the doctor/hospital. If you have shortness of breath too and/or a racing heart- straight to the hospital.

They can be treated- normally. If there are underlying lung/heart issues, maybe not.

I suspect this was a cumulative event, rather than 100% a result of the flight to Melbourne.

Alienturnedhuman · Post by **Alienturnedhuman** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:49 am

Considering how despised long serving officials tend to be in most sports, the fact that after such a long period in his position Charlie remained a popular and likeable person, pretty much universally respected is a testament to him.

Ultimately, people are always going to have a differences of opinions with his rulings - that's the nature of the game. If people agreed with him 100% of the time that would have meant there was no difference of opinion to begin with. But he was always fair, and could always justify why he had reached his decisions.

It will be interesting to see how the sport moves on with his passing, as other than Bernie, there is probably not a person who has shaped the sport as much. Yes, he wasn't making far reaching decisions about the long term direction of the sport as a business, or the technological evolution, but it was his judgement that shaped that actual 'sport' component of Formula 1. How the drivers and teams conducted themselves, and he was in that position for a long, long time.

Siao7 · Post by **Siao7** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:01 am

Sad news, I liked Charlie. I think everyone did. Respected and long serving, he owned this role. He had to make some tough calls in his tenure, but he made it stick and did it in style. He will be missed.

They may consider bringing Herbie back now, he was his right hand up till a couple of years ago. He's in WSBC now, but he could be the man for the job.

Jezza13 · Post by **Jezza13** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:24 am

Just watched the drivers press coonference where they each spoke about Charlie.

While they all handled the situation very well, I was really impressed by Verstappen's words.

jimmyj · Post by **jimmyj** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:24 am

Wow, shocking, RIP Charlie. I could only wish to have lived in the job you had for so long.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:53 pm

RIP Charlie

Blinky McSquinty · Post by **Blinky McSquinty** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:58 pm

I wish to extend my sincere condolences to Charlie's family and loved ones on this unexpected and tragic loss.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 4:01 pm

Rip Charlie. Very sad to hear this.

BeOnEdge · Post by **BeOnEdge** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 4:07 pm

Such sad news and completely unexpected.

R I P Charlie

Gone but not forgotten

kowen1208 · Post by **kowen1208** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:19 pm

Such a shock, and such sad timing, while everyone is getting excited for the start of the new season. I can only imagine how off-balance everyone in Formula 1 must be right now.

j man · Post by **j man** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:12 pm

I didn't agree with everything he said but there's no doubt he was a tremendous servant to the sport and a true gentleman. That he held the race director post for so many years and continued well into his 60s is testament to how highly respected he was as well as his undimmed passion for motor racing. His untimely passing is deeply sad and a massive loss to the sport.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:26 pm

Awful news.

RIP Charlie

aice · Post by **aice** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:02 pm

RIP Charlie

sandman1347 · Post by **sandman1347** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:05 pm

That's very unexpected. Very sad. RIP Charlie

RaggedMan · Post by **RaggedMan** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:57 pm

Sad news. He was a fixture and valuable asset to the sport.

A friend was hospitalized for a week for a PE several years ago after a flight he was on was delayed for an hour and a half after boarding. He was in his 40’s at the time.

SDLRob · Post by **SDLRob** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 12:36 am

extremely sad and shocking news.

simonr23 · Post by **simonr23** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 1:06 am

According to Ross Brawn he was found in his room, already deceased. Very sad.

Big Arti · Post by **Big Arti** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 8:44 am

RIP
There will never be another one like Charlie, really sad to see him go

AstoriaisBACK · Post by **AstoriaisBACK** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 12:32 pm

RIP I agree this was one of the good guys of F1. Sadly will be missed.

MistaVega23 · Post by **MistaVega23** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 12:52 pm

I was at Monza last year and after every session finished, the safety car would do a lap with Charlie inside, and I couldn't believe the crowd's reaction to him, cheering and applauding, he must have done the whole lap waving!

Just goes to show how much an important and popular figure he was after the drivers. Such a sad loss.