Oscar Piastri Clarifies Mark Webber's Reduced Trackside Role for F1 2026

Oscar Piastri has confirmed a reshuffle in his personal support team for the 2026 Formula 1 season, with his long-time manager Mark Webber set to attend fewer races. The McLaren driver emphasized that Webber remains "very much involved" in his career, with former F2 race engineer Pedro Matos stepping into a more prominent trackside role.

Why it matters:

This change comes at a pivotal moment as Piastri enters his fourth F1 season aiming to mount a sustained title challenge. After a strong but ultimately fading 2025 campaign, optimizing every aspect of his performance—including his off-track support structure—is critical. The move signals a maturation in Piastri's career, shifting from a mentorship-heavy model to a more specialized, performance-focused team as he battles teammate Lando Norris and the rest of the grid under new regulations.

The details:

• Management Shift: Mark Webber, the former F1 driver who has managed Piastri for much of his career and been a frequent trackside presence, will now attend only selected Grands Prix. Pedro Matos, Piastri's race engineer during his 2021 Formula 2 championship win, will take over the primary trackside support role at most races.
• Team Structure: Matos is not a direct McLaren employee but is part of Piastri's personal team, providing technical expertise and weekend support. Piastri will continue working with sports psychologist Emma Murray.
• Driver's Explanation: Piastri stated the decision was not triggered by any specific event. "We made a decision for things to look a bit different," he said, downplaying any drama behind the change. "Mark is still very much involved... He just won’t be trackside as much anymore."
• Regulation Reset: The change coincides with F1's major regulatory overhaul for 2026, which has forced drivers to adapt their styles. Piastri noted the new cars require "very different" driving techniques and that teams are still optimizing setups around these new demands.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether this refined support team helps Piastri achieve greater consistency over a full season. With pre-season testing complete and McLaren having logged the most laps, the team has a solid data foundation. The true test begins at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where Piastri will debut his new-look team structure in front of his home crowd. His ability to adapt to both the new car and his revised personal team could define his 2026 championship aspirations.