Oscar Piastri has clarified recent developments concerning Mark Webber’s scaled-back trackside role with McLaren, amid rumors that the team wanted Webber removed completely. The adjustment follows a challenging end to Piastri’s last season and several questionable strategic calls by the team, which reportedly led to strained relations between Webber and McLaren executives including chief executive Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella.
Last week, it was announced that Webber would reduce his full-time presence at the track, with commercial obligations given as the reason for his diminished role.
Relationship Dynamics Between Webber, McLaren, and Piastri
Webber and his wife Ann Neal have long managed Piastri’s racing career, with Webber concentrating on driver development and Neal overseeing commercial matters. Piastri was candid about the situation after pre-season testing in Bahrain, emphasizing that no single event drove the decision to alter Webber’s on-track duties.
“There wasn’t anything specific, we just made a decision for things to look a bit different,”
said the Melbournian.
Piastri added,
“Mark is still very much involved and I’ve been in contact with him a lot over the last few weeks. He just won’t be trackside as much anymore. So that’s really the extent of it. But yeah, there was nothing specific that triggered it.”
New Trackside Management and Team Response
Webber’s reduced trackside role has been taken over by Pedro Matos, who was Piastri’s race engineer during his championship-winning Formula 2 season. The move is seen as an effort to bring fresh perspectives to Piastri’s support team.
Former Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher claimed on the German Backstage Boxengasse podcast that McLaren had pushed for a complete managerial change for Piastri, aiming to bring more stability after a turbulent previous year.
“There was quite a lot of pressure there … after last year, from what I’ve heard, it was very important to McLaren that Piastri had a different manager this year to bring more calm,”
Schumacher explained.
He recalled that Webber had been frequently on the phone during the final phase of the previous season, pointing to tension within the team’s hierarchy.
“The relationship between Zak Brown and Mark Webber had cooled, so to speak.”
Piastri’s Performance During Pre-Season Testing
Piastri concluded the final day of pre-season testing with the 11th fastest lap, handing over the car to teammate Lando Norris for the evening session. Over the two testing days combined, he recorded the third fastest time, narrowly edging Norris by one-hundredth of a second, but lagging eight tenths behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
These results provide some insight into Piastri’s readiness as the new Formula 1 season approaches, with the Australian Grand Prix set to take place in Melbourne on March 8.
Implications for McLaren and the 2026 F1 Season
The adjustments in Piastri’s management and trackside support highlight McLaren’s strategic attempts to stabilize the driver’s performance and internal team dynamics after a difficult prior season. While Webber remains involved in Piastri’s career, the reduced presence at the track could influence communication and decisions during races.
As Piastri prepares for his home Grand Prix at Melbourne, the modified team structure may play a critical role in alleviating past tensions and fostering improved results. The shift to Pedro Matos as race engineer adds a familiar yet fresh element to Piastri’s setup, potentially impacting McLaren’s competitiveness this year.
