Autosport Awards: Charlie Whiting honoured with Bolster Award
The life of the late FIA Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting has been recognised by a John Bolster Award at the 2019 Autosport Awards.
The Award, named after Autosport's co-founder and long-time Technical Editor, is presented annually to an organisation or person that has made an exceptional contribution to motorsport technology.
Martin Brundle took to the stage to pick up the Award and to discuss Whiting's legacy, ahead of a video paying tribute to Whiting's career.
Brundle said: "Charlie Whiting was absolutely unique in our industry, business and sport. He was universally respected and liked by everybody involved. The FIA, rights-holders, the team principals, engineers, drivers, fans and the media.
"We loved him and what he did. The integrity he had for Formula 1 was absolutely unique. He achieved it in a very competitive environment. He's a great loss to Formula 1."
Whiting, who had worked for the FIA for more than 30 years, died in Australia on the eve of the start of the 2019 season aged 66. His most recognisable role was that of race starter, though he was also responsible for track and car safety, as well as technical and procedural matters on grand prix weekends.
He also played an important role in ensuring the halo was adopted in F1 for 2018 - which was credited with saving then Sauber driver Charles Leclerc's life at the Belgian Grand Prix that season.
Whiting started working in F1 10 years before he joined the FIA with Hesketh Racing, though he was better known for rising through the ranks at Brabham under Bernie Ecclestone - eventually becoming chief mechanic.
He played a key role in helping Nelson Piquet to the drivers' championship in 1981 and '83 and stayed with the team until it was sold five years later.
Previous article
Autosport Awards: Hamilton crowned Racing Driver of the Year
Next article
Autosport Awards: Monaco Grand Prix receives Grant Award
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Author | Jack Cozens |
Is Red Bull Hiding the Real RB16B? | F1 2021
Sergio Perez's First Drive With Red Bull Racing
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
Eight things Red Bull must do to beat Mercedes in 2021
After seven years of defeat at the hands of Mercedes, Red Bull is as hungry as ever to secure a fifth world championship. But there are key challenges it must overcome in 2021 to switch from challenger to conqueror
How AlphaTauri has adapted to F1's new rules
AlphaTauri launched its AT02, complete with a new livery, as it bids to home in on an already-tight midfield battle. Although there were few outright new parts displayed on the launch render, there might be a few clues into further changes down the line…
