What’s Behind Oscar Piastri’s Split With Mark Webber—and What It Means for His F1 Career

Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber End Management Partnership

Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber announced in a joint statement on the Monday after the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix that Webber and Ann Neal would no longer manage the 25-year-old McLaren driver. Although the timing came earlier than some observers might have expected, the decision had been developing for several months.

Piastri had already indicated during pre-season testing in Bahrain that Webber’s role was changing. Asked about the matter after discussing the 2026 cars, Piastri said:

“There wasn’t anything specific, we just made a decision for things to look a bit different,” Piastri said on that unusually cold February evening in the Bahrain paddock. “Mark is still very much involved and I’ve been in contact with him a lot over the last few weeks. He just won’t be trackside as much anymore. So that’s really the extent of it. There was nothing specific that triggered it.”

While Piastri’s explanation remains broadly accurate, the 2025 season was demanding on several fronts, including behind the scenes from Webber’s perspective. The situation was closely connected to McLaren’s “papaya rules”, the team’s effort to treat Piastri and teammate Lando Norris as fairly as possible. However, that approach also created difficult moments for McLaren, as team principal Andrea Stella openly acknowledged at the beginning of the year.

Webber was not always satisfied with how McLaren managed certain on-track situations, nor with the explanation for Piastri’s loss of form during the final quarter of the season. That decline ultimately contributed to Piastri missing out on the world championship. As Piastri’s manager, however, Webber’s responsibility was to defend the driver’s interests, even if there were different ways to do so.

Webber’s Red Bull Experience Shaped His Approach

Webber’s own years at Red Bull influenced his determination to ensure that Piastri was never viewed as a number two driver in Formula 1. Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner recently identified that attitude as a central part of Webber’s mentality, arguing that it was also present during Webber’s driving career.

“I think probably the difficulty with Mark was, he motivated himself through adversity. He always drove better when he felt that the world was against him,” Horner said. “He could see this talent emerging in Sebastian [Vettel], and he was using everything in his locker to try and destabilise that, or to cause any tension in a way that would then fall back in his favour. I think as a team we were learning how to handle these dynamics.”

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The relationship between Red Bull during Webber’s era and the current McLaren structure is not directly comparable. Red Bull was led by Horner and Helmut Marko, both of whom were highly familiar with Formula 1’s political side. McLaren, by contrast, is now strongly engineering-led under Stella, who consistently stresses the principles governing the team’s racing approach, including fairness.

That difference creates a distinct environment for Piastri. Any effort to prevent him from being pushed into a number two role is interpreted differently within McLaren than it might have been at Red Bull. Motorsport.com understands that McLaren never formally asked Piastri to change his management. Instead, Piastri formed his own view, with input from people around him, about what he needs for the next stage of his career.

Piastri’s Management Needs Have Changed

Webber had already decided at the beginning of this year to step back and work primarily behind the scenes rather than remain prominent during race weekends. In retrospect, that reduction in trackside involvement was an initial step toward the eventual split, which the joint statement described as a mutual decision.

“Following our reduced trackside involvement this season, we have collectively agreed that now is an appropriate time to bring our management agreement to a close,” Webber said.

Piastri’s circumstances are now significantly different from those he faced at the beginning of his career. When he entered Formula 1 at 21, Webber’s experience was particularly valuable. Piastri had to adapt not only to the demands of a new generation of racing cars, but also to the increased media, commercial and organizational responsibilities that come with being an F1 driver.

During Piastri’s debut season, he described the practical value of Webber’s guidance:

“Mark’s advice was to not underestimate the challenge of F1 and how big of a step up it is, not just from the cars but from everything: the amount of people you need to interact with, the media commitments, and the sponsor commitments. It’s all much higher than before. I think having him reminding me of that before the season started was nice, not to be shocked when I arrived. That’s probably been the biggest thing.

“But he’s very helpful with small driving tips here and there as well, and sometimes thinking of questions for the engineers that don’t even come to my head at the moment.

“He’s still very sharp. He thinks like a racing driver still and is always trying to get the best out of me.”

After more than three years in Formula 1, Piastri has now experienced those challenges himself. He therefore requires less hands-on driving guidance than he did as a rookie, making it possible for a different management structure to meet his current priorities.

McLaren Commitment Reduces the Need for Outside Negotiations

The Formula 1 driver market has also changed since Piastri’s early career. He is committed to McLaren through the end of 2028. His name was linked repeatedly with Red Bull during the summer, particularly amid speculation involving Max Verstappen, but those reports were widely overstated. Verstappen indicated that he had come closer to retiring from Formula 1 than moving to another team, while Piastri was not seriously seeking an alternative destination.

Piastri described the Red Bull links as “flattering”, but that route appears closed for the coming years. Verstappen has extended his contract, giving Red Bull an established lead driver as long as the team provides him with a competitive car. Red Bull also has potential internal options for its second seat, including Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and, over the longer term, possibly Nikola Tsolov.

Mercedes and Ferrari likewise have long-term lead drivers in Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. Against that backdrop, maintaining and strengthening Piastri’s relationship with McLaren is more important than preserving external contacts, including any potential route to Red Bull through Webber.

Webber’s contribution to Piastri’s career remains significant. He helped guide the Australian through the move from Alpine to McLaren, a decision that included Piastri’s now-famous tweet and protected him from the uncertainty surrounding Alpine at that time. Webber’s “us against the world” approach, as Horner described it, was particularly useful during that period.

Piastri acknowledged that contribution in the joint statement:

“I’d like to thank Mark and Ann for all their support and advice over the years. Their guidance has been invaluable, particularly in navigating the beginning of my F1 career. I wish them all the best going forward.”

Why This Matters

The end of the partnership marks a change in how Piastri’s Formula 1 career will be managed, rather than a denial of Webber’s importance to his development. Webber helped Piastri reach McLaren and navigate the most vulnerable early phase of his F1 career. Piastri is now an established McLaren driver with a contract extending to 2028 and a clearer understanding of the sport’s competitive and political demands.

With McLaren focused on managing the relationship between Piastri and Norris under its fairness principles, Piastri appears to be prioritizing stability within the team. The decision follows Webber’s reduced trackside role and reflects the different requirements of the next phase of Piastri’s career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Oscar Piastri and Mark Webber end their management agreement?

The agreement ended by mutual decision after Webber reduced his trackside involvement. Piastri also determined, with input from people around him, that he needed a different management approach as his career developed.

Was McLaren involved in the decision?

Motorsport.com understands that McLaren never formally asked Piastri to change his management. The decision came from Piastri and his representatives based on what he believed he needed going forward.

How long is Oscar Piastri contracted to McLaren?

Piastri is committed to McLaren through the end of 2028.