A pillar of the sport, Whiting became one of F1's most respected, influential and well-liked figures across five decades in the paddock.
The FIA said Whiting suffered a pulmonary embolism on Thursday morning in Melbourne, three days before the first race of the 2019 season.
"It is with immense sadness that I learned of Charlie's passing," said FIA president Jean Todt.
"Charlie Whiting was a great race director, a central and inimitable figure in Formula 1 who embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport.
"Formula 1 has lost a faithful friend and a charismatic ambassador in Charlie. All my thoughts, those of the FIA and entire motorsport community go out to his family, friends, and all Formula 1 lovers."
Whiting began his F1 career in 1977 working for the Hesketh team, before joining Brabham in the 1980s where he worked for team owner Bernie Ecclestone. The outfit won two Drivers' World Championships with Nelson Piquet, with Whiting serving as chief mechanic.
Whiting first joined the FIA, F1's governing body, in 1988 and served as F1's race director since 1997.
He had ultimate responsibility for technical and safety matters in the sport, including being in charge of starting Grands Prix.
A pillar of the sport, Whiting became one of F1's most respected, influential and well-liked figures across five decades in the paddock.
The FIA said Whiting suffered a pulmonary embolism on Thursday morning in Melbourne, three days before the first race of the 2019 season.
"It is with immense sadness that I learned of Charlie's passing," said FIA president Jean Todt.
"Charlie Whiting was a great race director, a central and inimitable figure in Formula 1 who embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport.
"Formula 1 has lost a faithful friend and a charismatic ambassador in Charlie. All my thoughts, those of the FIA and entire motorsport community go out to his family, friends, and all Formula 1 lovers."
Whiting began his F1 career in 1977 working for the Hesketh team, before joining Brabham in the 1980s where he worked for team owner Bernie Ecclestone. The outfit won two Drivers' World Championships with Nelson Piquet, with Whiting serving as chief mechanic.
Whiting first joined the FIA, F1's governing body, in 1988 and served as F1's race director since 1997.
He had ultimate responsibility for technical and safety matters in the sport, including being in charge of starting Grands Prix.
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