Ecclestone: F1 will struggle to replace 'super' Whiting

  • Published on 14 Mar 2019 15:26
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone believes that the sport will struggle to go on without Charlie Whiting.

Whiting passed away in his sleep on Thursday, leaving a deep shock within the motorsport community. Whiting worked as F1's race director, holding the role for over 20 years.

Prior to his position with the FIA, Whiting worked at Brabham, which was headed by Ecclestone in the '80s.

"Charlie did a wonderful job for the FIA," Ecclestone told GPToday.net. "I don't know how they're going to replace him. He did a super job.

"Charlie was a guy that I could trust. Everyone knew that if he said he was going to do something, he would do it. I have nothing bad to say about him.

"When you've been working with someone for a certain amount of time,  if they say 'Good morning' to you, I know it's before 12 o'clock. That's what's important, to get that confidence in somebody."

Ecclestone added that team members at Brabham looked up to him, as he was more or less the team leader.

“He wasn’t chief mechanic really he was more or less the team leader. He led the team and led them to victory. All the drivers liked and trusted him, there was nobody in the team that was against him. They were all supportive.”

Speaking about Whiting's appointment to race director in 1997, Ecclestone says that he pushed for the move as he believed Whiting had the characteristics to succeed.

"I thought he’d be the one guy that could do the job. He’s strong enough, wouldn’t take a lot of nonsense from people.

“Obviously he upset people on the odd occasions because he came out with decisions that drivers didn’t like.

"But they were normally the right decision. The stewards backed him up so when they were lost in what decision to take, they’d ask Charlie and Charlie would help them.”

Ecclestone received the news via a phone call last night from FIA president Jean Todt. The 88-year-old added that when his time comes, he hopes he passes in a similar, peaceful way to Whiting.

"The only good thing about this, if there is a good thing, is that I imagine he went to bed last night happy knowing he was going to get up at seven in the morning and get on with his job, and he didn’t wake up. When I have to go I hope I go the same way."

The kinda competence this guy brought to F1 will be very tough to replace for sure. One cannot stress how much he brought to the grid. So thanks, Whiting, thank you for all the times you penalized drivers in the sport we like, be it drivers we liked or didn't, most of them probably deserved your ... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Mar 14 2019 - 17:15

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • The kinda competence this guy brought to F1 will be very tough to replace for sure. One cannot stress how much he brought to the grid. So thanks, Whiting, thank you for all the times you penalized drivers in the sport we like, be it drivers we liked or didn't, most of them probably deserved your reprimand and stern glare (and I am being a bit facetious, seriously, thanks Whiting).

    • + 1
    • Mar 14 2019 - 17:15
    • He was one of the best and most consistent things about the sport. Since we all got to go one day, may we all pass in such a peaceful way.

      • + 0
      • Mar 14 2019 - 18:44

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Oct 28 1930 (92)
  • Place of b. Bungay, Suffolk, England, UK, United Kingdom
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 1.59 m
Show full profile
show sidebar