Oscar Piastri spilts with manager Mark Webber
McLaren driver says Webber was instrumental in his move to McLaren in 2023
Quick Look
- Oscar Piastri has ended his management agreement with former F1 driver Mark Webber and Ann Webber after Webber managed his career since 2019 and helped him join McLaren in 2023.
- Piastri, seventh in the 2026 F1 standings with three rounds remaining, thanked the Webbers for their invaluable guidance.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Mark Webber began working with Oscar Piastri in 2019 and was instrumental in Piastri joining McLaren in 2023 to replace Daniel Ricciardo rather than staying at Alpine. Alpine had wanted to promote Piastri to a race seat after Fernando Alonso announced he was leaving for Aston Martin, but Piastri rejected the offer. Piastri won back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in 2020 and 2021.
In short:
Oscar Piastri will no longer be managed by former F1 driver, and fellow Australian, Mark Webber.
Webber had looked after Piastri's career since well before he debuted in Formula 1.
What's next?
There are three rounds of the 2026 F1 season remaining, with the next race in Las Vegas on Sunday, November 22 (AEDT).
McLaren Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri and fellow Australians Mark and Ann Webber say they have ended their management agreement.
Nine-time Grand Prix winner Webber began working with Piastri in 2019 and was instrumental in Piastri joining McLaren in 2023 to replace compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, rather than staying at Alpine.
Renault-owned Alpine had wanted to promote Piastri to a race seat after double world champion Fernando Alonso announced he was leaving for Aston Martin, but the Australian rejected the offer.
"We are proud to have played a pivotal role in the formative years of Oscar's career and to have placed him in F1 so that he could compete at the front so early in," Webber said in a statement on Monday.
"Following our reduced trackside involvement this season, we have collectively agreed that now is an appropriate time to bring our management agreement to a close.
"This will allow Oscar to build on his achievements under a new management structure and for us to embark on our new ventures."
Piastri, who won back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in 2020 and 2021, thanked the pair for support and recognised their guidance had been invaluable.
The Australian has not won a race this season, after looking like he might win the championship last year before being overhauled by teammate Lando Norris and ending up third. He finished sixth in Brazil on Sunday.
The winner of nine grands prix has not been on the podium for 16 races and is seventh in this year's standings.
Reuters
The ABC of SPORT
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.
Open Questions
- Who will manage Oscar Piastri under the new management structure?
- What are the new ventures Mark and Ann Webber will embark on?
- Why was there reduced trackside involvement this season?