the rule or the chicane would be unfair to Bridgestone who had brought the correct specification and therefore was able to race safely on the existing track. Whiting's counter-proposals, which included repeated tyre changes, running through the pits each lap, running at the bottom of Turn 13 or observing a speed limit were all rejected by the Michelin teams. As a result only six cars took part in the race. Safety improvements in motorsport Whiting was known for safety improvements in motorsport, such as the halo, which was credited with preventing Charles Leclerc from suffering serious injury at the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix saving Romain Grosjean's life at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix and also preventing serious injury to Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix after a collision with Max Verstappen. Zhou Guanyu also credited it for saving his life when his car turned over at the start of the British Grand Prix 2022 after making severe contact with George Russell's Mercedes on turn 1 of Silverstone track. Whiting was also responsible for introducing the HANS device, safety survival cell, front and side impact structures and high cockpit sides. Death and legacy On the morning of 14 March 2019, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, three days before the season opening Australian Grand Prix of the 2019 Formula One season, Whiting suffered a pulmonary embolism and died, aged 66. He left behind his three children from two marriages. In the hours after his death many F1 drivers and personalities commented that he was instrumental to the success of the sport, being described as "a pillar for the sport", a "really nice guy" and a drivers' man. In an obituary, journalist Adam Cooper described Whiting as the "perfect man for the difficult role of referee" due to his calm demeanour. Whiting's death was widely mourned in the motorsport world. Moments of silence were held before the starts of the Australian Grand Prix and the 1000 Miles of Sebring in his honour. Valtteri Bottas dedicated his Australian Grand Prix win to Whiting. Jean-Éric Vergne also dedicated his win at the Sanya ePrix to Whiting. He was posthumously named the recipient of the John Bolster Award at the Autosport Awards in December 2019. At the 2019 British Grand Prix, the FIA decided that his son Justin would act as starter for the race. References Formula One people Formula One engineers English motorsport people