What is Charlie Whiting?
[[File:Charlie Whiting 2010 Japan.jpg|thumb|250px|Whiting at the {{F1|2010}} [[Japanese Grand Prix]]]] '''Charles Whiting'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charlie-whiting-obituary-d8tlqkhtl|title=Charlie Whiting obituary|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=15 March 2019|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> (12 August 1952 – 14 March 2019) was a [[British people|British]] [[motorsport]]s director. He served as the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] [[Formula One]] Race Director, Safety Delegate, Permanent Starter and head of the F1 Technical Department. He mostly managed the logistics of each F1 Grand Prix, inspects cars before a race, enforces FIA rules, and controls the start of each race. He was born in [[Sevenoaks]], [[Kent]]. == Career history == Whiting's first job was assisting his brother Nick in preparing race cars near the [[Brands Hatch]] racing circuit in [[England]]. In 1977, he joined Hesketh Racing at Easton Neston, near [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]]. When the team folded, he joined [[Bernie Ecclestone]]'s [[Brabham]] team. He become the chief mechanic for [[Nelson Piquet]] in {{f1|1981}} and {{f1|1983}} seasons. He later became chief engineer. In {{f1|1988}}, he became technical delegate to the FIA Formula One and in {{f1|1997}} he was appointed FIA Race Director and Safety Delegate. == 2005 United States Grand Prix == During the {{f1|2005}} [[United States Grand Prix]], Whiting was involved in a [[tyre]] controversy. None of the tyres which [[Michelin]] had brought to Indianapolis were safe to use. Michelin was unable to produce new tyres to replace the seven teams' unsafe tyres. Michelin asked Whiting to install a [[chicane]] in Turn 13 of the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] instead. Whiting refused to make the change. He said this would be unfair to the teams who were able to race safely on the existing track.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2005/June/190605-02.html |title=Whiting's reply to Michelin |access-date