Ecclestone on Whiting: 'I don’t know how they'll replace him'

Bernie Ecclestone says he doesn't know how Formula 1 will replace Charlie Whiting after the FIA race director sadly passed away in his sleep on Thursday.

Not only did Whiting serve the FIA in his race director position throughout Eccelstone's tenure as owner of F1, but the two also crossed paths much earlier with Whiting working as a mechanic at Ecclestone's Brabham team in the late 1970s and 80s. 

In an interview with RaceFans, Ecclestone expressed sadness after learning of Whiting's passing, adding that he would leave Formula 1 with a huge void that would be difficult to fill.

“He’s just been doing a wonderful job for the FIA. I don’t know what they’re going to do or how they’re going to replace him to be honest with you. He did a super job.

“Charlie was a guy that I could trust. Most people knew they could trust him because if he said he was going to do something he got on. He would do it if he could. (I’ve) nothing bad to say about him.

“He wasn’t chief mechanic really he was more or less the team leader. He led the team and he led them to victory. All the drivers trusted him and liked him, and the rest of the people in the team.

"There was nobody which you could say was against him because he’s whatever. They were all supportive.”

While many in the paddock were busy preparing for the opening round of the 2019 season, driver and team personnel paid tribute to Whiting, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff calling him, "a pillar of our Formula One family."