Oscar Piastri reshuffles trackside team, reducing Mark Webber's presence
Oscar Piastri is changing his trackside team for 2026, with manager Mark Webber attending fewer races. He is bringing in his former F2 engineer and a mental coach, aiming for a more tailored support system as he challenges at the front with McLaren.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri has restructured his personal trackside support team for the 2026 season, with long-time manager and mentor Mark Webber set to attend fewer races. The 2021 F2 champion is bringing in key figures from his junior career to form a new-look team, while Webber will shift his focus to commercial matters away from the circuit.
Why it matters:
Mark Webber has been a pivotal figure in Piastri's career, masterminding his controversial but successful move from Alpine to McLaren. His reduced trackside presence marks a significant shift in the driver's inner circle as Piastri enters his fourth F1 season, aiming to establish greater independence and a tailored support system during his crucial development years at the front of the grid.
The details:
- The restructured team will include Pedro Matos, the Prema Racing engineer who worked with Piastri during his dominant 2021 Formula 2 championship campaign. His return suggests a focus on technical feedback and a familiar working relationship.
- Renowned Australian mental performance coach Emma Murray will also join the trackside team. She is best known for her work with Scott McLaughlin, helping him rebound from a devastating 2017 Supercars title loss to win three consecutive championships.
- Piastri emphasized the change was not triggered by any specific incident. "There wasn’t anything specific, we just made a decision for things to look a bit different," he stated during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
- Webber's role as Piastri's manager remains intact. The change primarily involves his physical presence at races, allowing him to concentrate more on the commercial and strategic aspects of Piastri's career away from the Grand Prix weekend hustle.
What's next:
The new dynamic will be tested throughout the 2026 season. The integration of Matos and Murray aims to provide Piastri with a more specialized support team tailored to the demands of a driver consistently fighting for podiums and wins. While Webber steps back from the garage, his strategic guidance behind the scenes will continue to be a cornerstone of Piastri's long-term career trajectory as he pursues a world championship with McLaren.