I am sad to inform the Slotblog readers that F1 race director Charlie Whiting sadly passed away as the result of a a pulmonary embolism on the eve of the opening weekend of the 2019 season (Australia 14 March 2019) aged 66.
Whiting was the official race starter and oversaw all rules matters in F1.
FIA president Jean Todt called Whiting "a central and inimitable figure who embodied the ethics and spirit" of F1.
Whiting had worked for the FIA since 1988, when he joined initially as technical director.