FIA appoints Michael Masi as race director after the passing of Charlie Whiting

The FIA has announced the appointment of Michael Masi as race director for the Australian Grand Prix. Masi will fill the shoes of Charlie Whiting who passed away on Thursday morning after suffering a pulmonary embolism.

Masi is a senior Australia motorsport official and has held many roles at the FIA in the past. He will also be the safety delegate and permanent starter for the Grand Prix this weekend.

Sunday's race will see the first new race director since Whiting took over for the 1997 season. Laurent Mekies played the role of deputy race director in previous years, but he left to join Ferrari last season.

Tributes flooded in this morning following the announcement of Whiting's passing.