The outpouring of grief from across the F1 divide says everything about the love and respect for Charlie Whiting. The shock of his sudden passing at the age of 66 aside, such universal affection reflects Whiting's success at achieving the seemingly impossible. He was unique in the sense of being Jack of all trades and master of every one.
The key to such an achievement was a varied background and an unerring ability to rule with a firm and fair hand, backed up at all times by a twinkling sense of humour. Whiting's understated sense of self-assurance came from having been there and done it during more than 40 years spent working from mechanic to race director in a sport he loved.