Former Formula 1 driver and manager of Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber, is full of praise for his protégé. After four victories in 2025, the Australian McLaren driver has taken the lead in the drivers’ championship. Ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Piastri enjoys a sixteen-point lead over teammate Lando Norris. Webber – admittedly somewhat biased in this matter – believes it’s ‘impossible’ not to appreciate Piastri.
In recent months, Oscar Piastri’s approach and driving style have been frequently compared to that of Lando Norris. Both have had their run-ins with reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who many consider the only challenger for McLaren. While Norris is seen as making ‘desperate’ attempts to stay ahead of his Dutch rival, Piastri is viewed as ‘cool and calculating’ in his approach – something that Webber also confirms. The Australian receives compliments from his manager, who expects the McLaren driver to have a long – and hopefully illustrious – career ahead of him.
‘He Speaks on the Track’
“That’s just how he is,” Webber said of Piastri’s cool approach in an interview with Auto Action. “He doesn’t get carried away. This also reflects his ambition and his current position in the competition. Of course, he is only at the beginning of a very, very long career. People like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were different in the early years of their careers than in recent years. These are now characters that you, I think, should look up to.”
“But at this point, it’s impossible for anyone not to appreciate Piastri,” Webber added. “He speaks on the track, and of course, he shows respect for his opponents, but at the same time, he doesn’t exaggerate their reputations. That’s clear.” Piastri has already won more races than his teammate Lando Norris. The Australian also has a thirty-two point lead over Max Verstappen.
