Oscar Piastri has announced a change in his management setup for the upcoming Formula 1 season, with his longtime manager Mark Webber reducing his presence at race weekends. This modification, occurring in 2026, stems from a strategic decision to reorganize how Piastri’s support team functions, rather than any particular event or conflict.
The Australian driver emphasized that this change reflects a collective choice to approach race weekends differently.
There wasn’t anything specific. Just, you know, we made a decision for things to look a bit different.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
Pedro Matos Assumes Greater Trackside Responsibilities
Pedro Matos, the engineer who contributed significantly to Piastri’s 2021 Formula 2 championship success, will take on an expanded role during race weekends. While Matos will offer essential trackside support and technical guidance, he is understood to operate independently of McLaren, focusing specifically on assisting Piastri on a personal level.
Mark Webber and Ann Neal, who have been central in managing Piastri’s career from his ascent to Formula 1, will continue to provide strategic input. However, Webber’s presence at events will be limited to select races throughout the season.
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.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
So, that’s really the extent of it. There’s nothing specific that triggered it.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
Alongside these changes, Piastri will keep working with sports psychologist Emma Murray to maintain focus on the mental side of his racing preparation.
Insights Gained from a Competitive First Title Challenge
The restructuring comes after a year in which Piastri made a strong push towards the championship, temporarily holding a 34-point lead early in the campaign before a decline in performance during the last phase. This downturn saw him fall behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris and defending champion Max Verstappen, serving as an important learning experience ahead of future contests.
With new technical regulations arriving in Formula 1, Piastri views this as an opportune time to reassess how his team operates on race weekends to better adapt to the evolving demands.
McLaren Gains Momentum Through Rigorous Testing in Bahrain
McLaren completed pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit with the highest total lap count, recording 817 laps across six testing days. This extensive mileage has given the team a strong foundation of data as they head into the Australian Grand Prix, although team principal Zak Brown acknowledged that Ferrari and Mercedes might still start the season with a slight edge.
Piastri is navigating a steep learning curve due to the extensive changes in car regulations, which require adjustments in driving style and technical setup.
It’s definitely been a learning curve.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
There are still some things that we need to do as drivers that are certainly very different to what we had to do last year.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
He noted that both drivers and engineers are gradually unlocking new performance levels as they refine their approach under the updated rules.
But, I think the kind of optimisation around driving that way… firstly, as drivers, I think we’re getting our heads around the new things we need to do. And as teams, [we are] making accommodations for having to drive a certain way now.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
I think it has improved. It still is very different to what we have before, but I think, naturally, we’ve all probably found performance, and just with performance, it’s made some creature comforts a little bit nicer as well.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
I think we are making progress. Let’s see what Melbourne’s like.
?Oscar Piastri, Driver
Implications for Piastri’s 2026 Season and Beyond
This strategic reshaping of Oscar Piastri’s management and support network signals a thoughtful approach to confronting the challenges of a new Formula 1 era. With Pedro Matos stepping into a more hands-on role and Mark Webber providing strategic oversight without being trackside at every event, Piastri aims to blend fresh perspectives with proven guidance.
As he adapts to the evolving technical landscape and reflects on last season’s lessons—combined with McLaren’s promising testing performance—this management change could lay the groundwork for a more consistent and competitive campaign in 2026.
