Oscar Piastri reshuffles management team ahead of 2026 F1 season
McLaren's Oscar Piastri has restructured his management team for 2026, with Mark Webber reducing his trackside role to focus on commercial affairs. Piastri's former F2 engineer and his mental coach will take on more prominent weekend duties, a move the driver says was planned, not prompted by drama.
Oscar Piastri has restructured his personal management team for the 2026 season, reducing manager Mark Webber's trackside presence while bringing in his former F2 engineer and increasing the role of his mental performance coach. The McLaren driver emphasized the change was a planned evolution, not a reaction to any specific incident, and that his relationship with Webber remains strong as the nine-time Grand Prix winner shifts focus to commercial matters.
Why it matters:
A driver's support team is critical for navigating the immense pressure and logistical demands of Formula 1. Piastri's proactive reshuffle, aligning his inner circle before a major regulation change, signals a maturing approach to his career as he aims to build on a breakout 2024 season and establish himself as a consistent championship contender.
The details:
- Managerial Shift: Mark Webber will continue as Piastri's manager but will attend fewer races, concentrating more on the commercial and strategic side of the driver's career away from the circuit.
- New Trackside Team: Pedro Matos, Piastri's race engineer during his 2021 Formula 2 championship-winning season with Prema, will take on a more prominent trackside role. Australian mental performance coach Emma Murray will also increase her involvement during race weekends.
- Driving Adjustments: Piastri noted that adapting to the new-generation cars during pre-season testing has been a "learning curve," requiring different driving techniques that both drivers and teams are still optimizing.
What's next:
The revamped team faces its first major test at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Piastri's home race. All eyes will be on how the new support structure and the evolving MCL38 perform under the spotlight of a partisan crowd, offering an early indicator of Piastri's preparedness for the long 2026 campaign.
summary: McLaren's Oscar Piastri has restructured his management team for 2026, with Mark Webber reducing his trackside role to focus on commercial affairs. Piastri's former F2 engineer and his mental coach will take on more prominent weekend duties, a move the driver says was planned, not prompted by drama.