Piastri reshuffles management team for 2026 F1 season
Oscar Piastri has restructured his management team for 2026, with Mark Webber moving to a commercial role off-track. He will be joined at races by former F2 engineer Pedro Matos and mental coach Emma Murray, a change Piastri describes as a strategic evolution rather than a fix for a past problem.
Oscar Piastri has confirmed a strategic reshuffle of his personal management team ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with long-time manager Mark Webber stepping back from a trackside role to focus on commercial matters. The McLaren driver will be supported at races by his former F2 engineer and an increased presence from his mental coach, framing the move as a natural evolution rather than a reaction to a specific issue.
Why it matters:
For a driver entering a critical phase of his career with a top team, optimizing the support structure around him is a key performance differentiator. This adjustment allows Piastri to refine his on-track operations with specialized personnel while leveraging Webber's experience and network for long-term career growth, signaling a mature approach to managing the demands of being a Grand Prix winner and title contender.
The details:
- Managerial Shift: Mark Webber remains Piastri's overall manager but will no longer be a constant trackside presence. His focus shifts to the commercial and strategic side of Piastri's career.
- New Trackside Team: Pedro Matos, Piastri's race engineer during his 2021 Formula 2 championship-winning season with Prema, will join him at Grands Prix. Australian mental performance coach Emma Murray will also increase her trackside involvement.
- Driver's Rationale: Piastri emphasized the change was not triggered by a single event from 2025. "There wasn't anything specific," he stated. "We just made a decision for things to look a bit different."
- Adapting to New Regulations: Commenting on pre-season testing with F1's new technical rules, Piastri noted a "learning curve" for drivers and teams. He acknowledged progress in adapting driving styles and car setup but stressed the experience remains "very different to what we had before."
What's next:
The immediate focus shifts to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Piastri's home race, where the new team dynamic will see its first real test. The reshuffle aims to provide Piastri with a more tailored support system as he and McLaren look to build on their 2025 progress and challenge for the championship under the latest set of regulations.