Piastri clarifies Webber's ongoing role as he gains F1 independence

Oscar Piastri confirms his long-time manager Mark Webber remains a key advisor in his Formula 1 career, but the McLaren driver is now taking more ownership of his decisions as his experience grows. The natural evolution comes as Piastri adds former F2 race engineer Pedro Matos to his inner circle, leading to Webber attending fewer races trackside.

Why it matters:

The transition from a highly guided rookie to a more independent driver is a critical phase in any F1 career. For Piastri, managing this shift while maintaining a trusted relationship with a figure like Webber—a former grand prix winner with deep paddock knowledge—is key to his continued development and success at the front of the grid with McLaren.

The details:

• Piastri has been managed by Webber and Ann Neal for most of his racing life, with Webber a constant presence at races during his initial F1 seasons.
• Ahead of the 2026 season, Piastri expanded his personal team by bringing in Pedro Matos, his race engineer from his championship-winning 2021 Formula 2 campaign.
• This addition has altered the trackside dynamic, with Matos now expected to attend most, if not all, Grands Prix, while Webber will be present at select events.
• Piastri emphasized the change is a sign of his growing experience, stating that questions about the car, team, and career that once needed Webber's prompting now come naturally to him.
• The driver framed the shift not as a reduction in Webber's importance, but as a "natural evolution" in their working relationship.

What's next:

Piastri's increasing self-sufficiency is a positive sign for McLaren, indicating a driver maturing into a complete package. With a strengthened personal team and Webber's strategic counsel still in the background, Piastri is well-positioned to build on his early successes and solidify his status as a top-tier driver capable of consistently challenging for wins and championships.