Charles "Charlie" Whiting (August 12, 1952–March 14, 2019) was FIA Formula One Race Director, Safety Delegate, Permanent Starter and head of the F1 Technical Department until his death in March 2019. He was tasked with managing the logistics of each F1 Grand Prix, inspecting cars in parc fermé before a race, enforcing FIA rules, and controlling the lights that start each race.
During the 1970's he and his brother Nick ran a Surtees in British F5000 for Divina Galica. In 1977, he began to work at the Brabham Formula One team. He would stay at Brabham for the next 10 years, becoming chief mechanic during World Championship successes in 1981 and 1983 and much later the chief engineer. He stayed until the end of 1987, shortly before Bernie Ecclestone sold the team.
In 1988, Whiting was appointed by the FIA as Technical Delegate to Formula One and in 1997 he was appointed FIA Race Director and Safety Delegate.
On the day before practice began for the season opening 2019 Australian Grand Prix, Whiting suffered a pulmonary embolism. He was 66. Whiting's immediate replacement was Michael Masi of Australia.