Charlie Whiting R.I.P.
Discussion
Met him briefly a few times when marshaling, always seemed in good spirits and had a nice word or to say to those who volunteered. Never heard a bad word said by any in race control or by the guys I know at the organizing committee, a true character of the sport who was also a nice bloke by all accounts.
RIP Charlie
RIP Charlie
OFORBES said:
Truly shocked by the news. He was a great man.
The tribute by the Fake Charlie twitter account was touching - I didn't know that they had become friends.
It's a big loss for the F1 world.
I’m sure he won’t mind me posting it here - it really is a lovely tribute to a great guy - The tribute by the Fake Charlie twitter account was touching - I didn't know that they had become friends.
It's a big loss for the F1 world.
moffspeed said:
Very sad, always felt that he added a touch of common sense and stability in the self -important world of F1. RIP.
Sad news and a loss to F1.I felt like his officiating left a lot to be desired especially in the past decade or so. He tried to ban blown exhaust diffusers mid-season a few decades after trying to ban active-suspension mid-season which didn't work out; SCs left out too long in the wet to point the of dry line formed till the race goes green. Saying that FRIC and 2016 Brazillian GP were exceptions. Granted, officiating is a thankless task and will never be perfect.
Also the fallout from Max Verstappen's USGP podium that wasn't could've been handled better by Charlie in the driver's meeting with a neutral, common sense approach regarding improving run-off rather just acting as proxy to FIA/delegate. No wonder the drivers/GPDA feel there's an us vs. them (FIA) mentality.
entropy said:
Sad news and a loss to F1.
I felt like his officiating left a lot to be desired especially in the past decade or so. He tried to ban blown exhaust diffusers mid-season a few decades after trying to ban active-suspension mid-season which didn't work out; SCs left out too long in the wet to point the of dry line formed till the race goes green. Saying that FRIC and 2016 Brazillian GP were exceptions. Granted, officiating is a thankless task and will never be perfect.
Also the fallout from Max Verstappen's USGP podium that wasn't could've been handled better by Charlie in the driver's meeting with a neutral, common sense approach regarding improving run-off rather just acting as proxy to FIA/delegate. No wonder the drivers/GPDA feel there's an us vs. them (FIA) mentality.
Hmm. Will the tracks ever be wide enough for Max?I felt like his officiating left a lot to be desired especially in the past decade or so. He tried to ban blown exhaust diffusers mid-season a few decades after trying to ban active-suspension mid-season which didn't work out; SCs left out too long in the wet to point the of dry line formed till the race goes green. Saying that FRIC and 2016 Brazillian GP were exceptions. Granted, officiating is a thankless task and will never be perfect.
Also the fallout from Max Verstappen's USGP podium that wasn't could've been handled better by Charlie in the driver's meeting with a neutral, common sense approach regarding improving run-off rather just acting as proxy to FIA/delegate. No wonder the drivers/GPDA feel there's an us vs. them (FIA) mentality.
entropy said:
No wonder the drivers/GPDA feel there's an us vs. them (FIA) mentality.
Because there always will be, what with the FIA doing everything possible to not let loopholes exist, and the Teams trying everything possible to find them! It's a constant battle 
It's all part of our sport though! And Charlie was a bridge between the two quietly warring factions - managing to be reasonable, most of the time, to both. That's probably about the best anyone can do.
TheDeuce said:
Because there always will be, what with the FIA doing everything possible to not let loopholes exist, and the Teams trying everything possible to find them! It's a constant battle
It's all part of our sport though! And Charlie was a bridge between the two quietly warring factions - managing to be reasonable, most of the time, to both. That's probably about the best anyone can do.
I was referring to drivers vis-a-vis with the FIA, not the teams. The GPDA is still going strong because the drivers feel like they're not listened to by the FIA/Charlie not doing enough as middle-man?It's all part of our sport though! And Charlie was a bridge between the two quietly warring factions - managing to be reasonable, most of the time, to both. That's probably about the best anyone can do.
TheDeuce said:
entropy said:
No wonder the drivers/GPDA feel there's an us vs. them (FIA) mentality.
Because there always will be, what with the FIA doing everything possible to not let loopholes exist, and the Teams trying everything possible to find them! It's a constant battle It's all part of our sport though! And Charlie was a bridge between the two quietly warring factions - managing to be reasonable, most of the time, to both. That's probably about the best anyone can do.
davidd said:
Do they think there is a them and us mentality? I'm not so sure. I've been around the FIA at events, the rapport between Race Control and the teams is usually good. Clearly if someone is having an issue then things get heated but it never lasts. These people spend so much time together at events, travelling, working, eating, drinking.. They are all (well most of them) in it because the love it.
Yes, I do think there's an us and them mentality. Yes, it's not antagonistic but the GPDA now has full membership, Alex Wurz has a prominent role heading the GPDA; drivers don't feel they're listened to. OK, there's the halo device but that doesn't have full consensus but then you the situation with the tyres and the FIA insisting higher degradation whereas the drivers (and fans) want tyres than can be leaned on without worrying too greatly with degradation.I hadn’t heard about this, until I walked into work this morning and a colleague, said something like “how are they going to start the Grand Prix now?”
Totally shocking. A great loss to F1, motorsport and the world. He always struck me has a very down to earth, straight to the point kinda of guy. I’d love to have meet him, and he was right up then on the people I’d like to have a pint with list, the storeies he could tell.
RIP Charlie.
Totally shocking. A great loss to F1, motorsport and the world. He always struck me has a very down to earth, straight to the point kinda of guy. I’d love to have meet him, and he was right up then on the people I’d like to have a pint with list, the storeies he could tell.
RIP Charlie.
entropy said:
davidd said:
Do they think there is a them and us mentality? I'm not so sure. I've been around the FIA at events, the rapport between Race Control and the teams is usually good. Clearly if someone is having an issue then things get heated but it never lasts. These people spend so much time together at events, travelling, working, eating, drinking.. They are all (well most of them) in it because the love it.
Yes, I do think there's an us and them mentality. Yes, it's not antagonistic but the GPDA now has full membership, Alex Wurz has a prominent role heading the GPDA; drivers don't feel they're listened to. OK, there's the halo device but that doesn't have full consensus but then you the situation with the tyres and the FIA insisting higher degradation whereas the drivers (and fans) want tyres than can be leaned on without worrying too greatly with degradation.RIP.
A loss to the sport.
Poignant picture of him chatting to Seb the day before in this article. Some touching tributes as well.
http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/26260776/formu...
A loss to the sport.
Poignant picture of him chatting to Seb the day before in this article. Some touching tributes as well.
http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/26260776/formu...
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