Here in Albert Park, traditionally a setting of sunshine and optimism for the start of the Formula One season, the sport was united on Thursday in shock at the death of long-serving race director Charlie Whiting. Just hours after his arrival in Melbourne for the season’s opening race, it was confirmed that the 66-year-old, a fixture of the paddock since his days working for Brabham under Bernie Ecclestone, had passed away from a pulmonary embolism.

Since 1997, Whiting had presided over every facet of F1 race weekends, from safety to starting grids to the stringent enforcement of regulations. Over that 22-year period, the former mechanic, who had begun his path in motorsport by preparing his brother Nick’s yellow Ford Escort for races at Brands Hatch, acquired an unrivalled grasp of F1’s byzantine rulebook. Even if he once memorably clashed with Sebastian Vettel – who berated him angrily over his in-car radio in Mexico in 2016 – he wore his knowledge lightly, endearing himself to drivers through his unaffected manner.

Ross Brawn, F1’s head of motorsport, expressed a profound sense of grief. “I have known Charlie for all of my racing life,” he said. “We worked as mechanics together, became friends, and spent so much time together at tracks across the world. I was filled with immense sadness when I heard the tragic news. I’m devastated. It’s a great loss not only for me personally but also the entire F1 family.”