Oscar Piastri has revealed striking insights into how his relationship with his manager, former Formula 1 star Mark Webber, has transformed since his debut in the pinnacle of motorsport. As Webber steps away from his trackside responsibilities ahead of the 2026 season, focusing solely on commercial affairs, Piastri’s support crew has evolved dramatically, highlighting the young Australian’s rapid maturation in the high-pressure world of F1.
Piastri, now 25, has brought in trusted allies to assist him on race weekends, including Pedro Matos, his former Formula 2 race engineer from his 2021 Prema days, and Australian mental coach Emma Murray. This new lineup signifies a shift toward a more specialized and psychological approach to race preparation, reflecting Piastri’s growth from rookie to seasoned contender.
In a candid conversation on the High Performance podcast, Piastri opened up about the early days of his partnership with Webber, painting a vivid picture of the steep learning curve every rookie faces in Formula 1. “The relationship’s good. Very thorough, is Mark. When I first got into F1, Mark was coming up with questions and ideas that literally hadn’t even entered my brain. I would hear him say it and go like, ‘How the hell did he think of that?’ Or like, ‘How am I ever going to think of that?’” Piastri confessed, illustrating just how overwhelming the transition to F1 was, even with a legend like Webber by his side.
But the story didn’t stop there. With each passing race and season, Piastri’s understanding and confidence have skyrocketed, allowing him to respond to the complex demands of F1 with a sharper mind. “And I think just with experience, we’re always learning every day, but now starting my fourth year, I have either the answers to a lot of those kinds of questions that I wouldn’t have had in the first couple of years, or I know the questions to keep asking, which just comes with experience,” he explained. This evolution means Webber’s role on the racing front has naturally diminished, a testament to Piastri’s rapid development into a driver who can think several steps ahead.
The Australian also acknowledged the invaluable role Webber played in shielding him from the harshest realities of the sport. “There are some lessons you have to learn the hard way, and there’s no other way of doing it, but I’m sure there could have been plenty of other slightly annoying, tougher lessons to learn that I was probably spared because of Mark’s experience and Mark’s guidance,” Piastri said. This behind-the-scenes management has likely saved the young driver from pitfalls that could have derailed his trajectory.
Perhaps most revealing was Piastri’s admission that many of the smooth moments and avoided crises in his career have been thanks to Webber’s unseen interventions. “There’s probably always going to be situations or things that have gone smoothly or almost problems that weren’t problems that I’m never going to know about because Mark managed them for me. That’s probably how it’s changed in the last few years,” Piastri concluded, offering fans a glimpse into the silent battles fought off the track that shape a driver’s success.
As Mark Webber recedes from the pit lane and Piastri steps into a more independent role bolstered by a fresh team, this dynamic shift signals a new chapter for the rising star. With experience sharpening his instincts and a strong support system evolving around him, Piastri is gearing up for what could be a defining era in his Formula 1 career as he prepares to take on the challenges of the 2026 season and beyond. The combination of seasoned wisdom and youthful fearlessness might just be the explosive formula McLaren needs to climb back to the front of the grid.
