Oscar Piastri has ended his long-running management relationship with former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, the pair announced on Monday in a joint statement. The Australian McLaren driver and Webber, who had managed his career since 2019, agreed to separate after a difficult 2026 season in which Piastri has not won a race in more than a year.
Webber and his wife Ann guided Piastri through championship victories in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in successive seasons and helped place him in Formula 1. In a statement, Webber said, “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in the formative years of Oscar's career and to have placed him in F1 so that he could compete at the front so early on.” He added that after reduced trackside involvement this season, both had agreed it was time to end the management agreement, allowing Piastri to “build on his achievements under a new management structure.”
Piastri thanked the Webbers for their support. "Their guidance has been invaluable, particularly in navigating the beginning of my F1 career," he said. "I wish them all the best going forward."
The 2026 season has been testing for Piastri. He crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix in March due to a combination of cold tyres, a torque spike and driver error. Electrical problems forced his McLaren off the grid in Shanghai before the formation lap. He scored podium finishes in Miami and Japan and had a close call in Austria. Formula 1's new regulations have reshaped the competitive landscape, and the championship was won last week by 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli of Italy.
Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris has secured three victories in 2026, including a recent win at the Brazilian Grand Prix. In July, Webber dismissed reports that Piastri might swap places with Red Bull's Max Verstappen; Verstappen subsequently signed a new contract with Red Bull, and Piastri remains contracted with McLaren.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The split ends a seven-year management partnership that took Piastri from junior categories to Formula 1.
- Piastri, who has struggled to win races in 2026, will now seek a new management team to help him return to form.
- The decision allows Webber to focus on other ventures after reducing his trackside role this season.
Background
Oscar Piastri is an Australian Formula 1 driver for McLaren who won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships in consecutive years before joining the grid. Mark Webber is a former F1 driver who competed for Jaguar, Williams and Red Bull, achieving multiple podium finishes. Webber and his wife Ann began managing Piastri in 2019, guiding his rise through the junior ranks and into McLaren.
What to Watch
- Piastri's next management appointment and whether it influences his long-term plans with McLaren.
- The 2027 Formula 1 season, where Piastri will aim to regain winning form under new regulations and without Webber's guidance.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPiastri has parted ways with Webber after a challenging season.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Oscar Piastri parts ways with Mark Webber after challenging Formula 1 season.”
- SupportedPiastri and Webber, a McLaren driver and former F1 driver respectively, separated by mutual agreement.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Piastri and Webber released a joint statement on Monday evening, confirming the agreement to separate was a mutual decision.”
- SupportedPiastri and Webber announced their separation in a joint statement on Monday.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Piastri and Webber released a joint statement on Monday evening, confirming the agreement to separate was a mutual decision.”
- SupportedWebber said: “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in the formative years of Oscar's career and to have placed him in F1 so that he could compete at the front so early on.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We are proud to have played a pivotal role in the formative years of Oscar’s career and to have placed him in F1 so that he could compete at the front so early on,” Mark Webber said in the statement.”
- SupportedWebber said the new management structure would allow Piastri to “build on his achievements under a new management structure.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““This will allow Oscar to build on his achievements under a new management structure, and for us to embark on our new ventures.””
- SupportedPiastri said: “Their guidance has been invaluable, particularly in navigating the beginning of my F1 career. I wish them all the best going forward.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Their guidance has been invaluable, particularly in navigating the beginning of my F1 career. I wish them all the best going forward.””
- SupportedThe Webbers had worked with Piastri since 2019.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Piastri also released a statement, thanking the Webbers – who have been working with him since 2019.”
- SupportedPiastri had not won a race in more than a year.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The Australian driver hasn’t won a race in more than a year”
- SupportedThe Webbers guided Piastri through Formula 2 and Formula 3 championship victories in successive years.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The Webbers guided Piastri through major milestones in his career, including his Formula 2 and Formula 3 championship victories in successive years.”
- SupportedPiastri crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix in March because of cold tyres, a torque spike and driver error.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Piastri crashed out of his home grand prix in Melbourne in March falling victim to an unfortunate combination of cold tyres, torque spike and driver error.”
- SupportedElectrical problems forced Piastri's McLaren off the grid in Shanghai before the formation lap.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Then there were electrical issues in Shanghai, which saw his McLaren unceremoniously towed from the grid before the formation lap.”
- SupportedThe 2026 championship was won last week by 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli of Italy.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Piastri was unable to realistically fight for the championship – which was won last week by 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli, of Italy.”