How Webber’s influence is key to Piastri impressing Verstappen

Oscar Piastri received a surprise endorsement from Max Verstappen following the Australian’s win in Saudi Arabia. And world champion Verstappen knows he is in a fight to retain the title he has held for the past four seasons after Piastri won his third race of the season.

Piastri, 24, now leads the championship by 10 points from his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who had started the season as the favourite to take Verstappen’s crown. But now it is the softly-spoken Aussie who looks likeliest to inherit the title.

Verstappen was asked about the formidable Piastri after his win in Saudi Arabia and gave a revealing response, citing the benefits of working closely with his manager, Mark Webber.

Webber was the last Australian to lead the F1 drivers’ championship, in 2010, and while he was never able to close out the season and clinch the F1 crown, he proved a tenacious competitor during his time in the series.

Verstappen drew comparisons with the way his father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, had nurtured his own career.

Verstappen said: “Last year was his [Piastri’s] second year. Now he’s in his third year, and he’s very solid. He’s very calm in his approach, and I like that. It shows on the track.

“He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes – and that’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship.

“I think with Mark by his side, he’s helping him a lot. It’s great. People learn from their own careers – that’s what I had with my dad, and Mark is advising Oscar.

“At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent, and that’s great to see.”

Webber became Piastri’s manager, along with his partner Ann, in 2019. Piastri had won the Eurocup, taking seven wins in 19 races, and been hotly tipped to join F3. However, his father, Chris Piastri, and close friend Rob McIntyre realised they needed extra help in overseeing the young racer’s career.

They turned to Webber for help and guidance through a mutual friend, sports scientist Simon Sostaric, who also knew Webber.

Webber, of course, knows the harsh realities of F1 and is imparting his knowledge on Piastri. In a recent interview with the F1 Nation podcast, Webber spoke about how Piastri had raised his game against the “serious artillery” of his rivals, including Verstappen.

Speaking after Piastri’s win in Bahrain the week prior to his success in Saudi, Webber was asked about how the 24-year-old was able to convert pole positions into a win.

He said: “I think that is a big component of your profession as a Formula 1 driver, so it’s something that’s not lost on him. That over your journey, when you’re up against Max, Charles [Leclerc], Lando, Lewis [Hamilton], like these guys in the first few years, there’s some serious artillery there over one lap.

“And to put it all together, we know how sensitive it is to execute these cars and tyres on Saturday, so because of the intelligence of the boy and understanding what he needs to improve, yeah. But as I say to him, you have the most experience the day you retire, so keep learning.”

Piastri is still learning. But there is a distinct feeling there is more to come – and Verstappen knows it.