Oscar Piastri’s ascension to the highest of the Method 1 world has been speedy to say the least. That he is nonetheless solely in his third season beggars perception.
However there’s a not-so-secret weapon in the younger Melburnian’s arsenal that no one else on the grid has, and he is placing it to good use – Mark Webber.
Since retiring from F1 on the finish of 2013, he is turned to punditry with Channel 4 in the UK. And collectively along with his spouse Anne, is Piastri’s supervisor and mentor.
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Whereas Anne manages the administration aspect of issues, Mark is his racing mentor. And his fingerprints are everywhere in the 24-year-old’s driving fashion.
Webber was fearless in quick corners. He famously overtook Fernando Alonso with one hand off the steering wheel across the exterior through the Belgian Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri with supervisor Mark Webber through the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix weekend. Getty
Piastri has now put two strikes on Lewis Hamilton in the primary 5 races of the season that regarded like classic Webber. The primary was across the exterior on the ultra-quick flip 9 on the ultimate lap in Melbourne for ninth. The second simply this weekend at Saudi Arabia, across the exterior by way of the mud after his pit cease.
“He clearly has little concern in quick corners, even across the exterior of anyone of Lewis’ calibre,” Martin Brundle wrote of the Saudi Arabia transfer in his column for Sky Sports activities.
It is becoming then that along with his win in Jeddah, Piastri turn out to be the primary Australian since Webber himself in 2010 to lead the drivers championship.
He by no means gained the title, though arguably ought to’ve in 2010, however Webber did all the things else. The teachings discovered from his 215 race begins and 9 grand prix victories are invaluable to any younger driver who, like Piastri, has expertise to burn and the temperament of a monk.
Piastri is the primary Australian since Webber to lead the drivers’ standings. Getty
Like Webber, Piastri is unflappable beneath strain. Two of his three race victories have been when he isn’t been the quicker of the 2 McLaren drivers.
In China, Norris made two errors in qualifying that allowed Piastri to take pole. In Saudi Arabia it was a lot the identical. Norris had regarded the faster of the 2 however threw his automobile into the wall in the ultimate a part of qualifying and consigned himself to a P10 begin.
In each instances, as soon as the chips had been down, Norris made errors. Piastri didn’t.
For proof of Webber’s affect, look no additional than Liam Lawson.
Demoted from Pink Bull again to Racing Bulls after simply two races, Lawson has been overwhelmed by teammate Isack Hadjar in every of the three races since.
With Lawson’s confidence little doubt shot, a mentor like Webber may show the distinction in his regaining the shape he displayed in his cameos in 2023 and 2024, and fading into obscurity as one other expertise unfulfilled.
In Supercars, Kiwi gun and former Holden ace Greg Murphy is filling such a task for younger compatriot Ryan Wooden. Murphy additionally beforehand mentored Nick Cassidy, who went on to carve a profitable profession in sports activities automobiles.
“I personally completely consider that is Liam Lawson’s largest downside proper now – he does not have anybody,” he mentioned on the Apex Hunters United podcast.
“Present me one other F1 driver in the intervening time that has a Mark Webber doing what Mark Webber is doing. Liam’s bought no one – he is bought some folks that have helped him again right here in New Zealand type of working the ship, (however) they don’t seem to be up to it.
“He wants somebody who’s completely in-tune, networked, has the telephone numbers, can speak to anyone, has the respect.
“(Webber) may be in the McLaren staff in the best way he’s as a result of they need Oscar to carry out at his best possible. Nicely, what are all of the instruments we’d like for that? Mark Webber is one in all them … it is simply so apparent.”
McLaren thought Lando Norris can be its greatest probability at profitable its first drivers’ title since 1999, however they would not have counted on the Aussie’s speedy improvement as a driver.
In his rookie season, managing tyre life was his Achilles heel. Final yr, it was qualifying tempo. Smoked by Norris 20-4 in the qualifying head-to-head final season, Piastri leads 3-2 from the opening 5 races. On the 2 events he was slower, he was lower than a tenth behind.
Alan Jones was the final Aussie world champion in 1980. Oscar Piastri in 2025 represents one of the best probability of ending that drought.
There are few in the paddock who would argue Max Verstappen isn’t nonetheless the benchmark driver on the grid. In a Pink Bull automobile that is proving troublesome at greatest to wrangle, Verstappen nonetheless managed to take a shock pole and race victory in Japan.
He simply may’ve repeated that in Jeddah if not for the penalty for that lap one transfer. Alas, he made the transfer, paid the value, and did not win the race.
Piastri gained his third race of the season, and the fifth of his profession in simply his 51st begin.
Do the maths – 10 per cent of the races he is began, he is gained.
And he’ll solely get higher.
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