Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren. 28.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Qualifying Day.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri says he is happy to have manager Mark Webber “in my corner” whilst he encounters a “whirlwind” rookie season in Formula 1.
Piastri made his F1 bow this year amid lofty expectations, having been the subject of an intense battle between Alpine and McLaren to secure his services last term.
Following a tough opening to the year with an uncompetitive and undeveloped car, Piastri has been able to demonstrate precisely was he was so highly sought after since a raft of upgrades has propelled McLaren into front-running contention.
Speaking on Virgin Radio recently, Piastri has credited the important role Webber, a nine-time F1 race winner with Red Bull in his time, has played in his career to this stage.
“He’s good,” Piastri acknowledged. “The first few years we worked together he did a lot behind the scenes for me – he still does a lot behind the scenes for me now.
“Obviously he’s got a wealth of F1 experience, racing experience, and now that I’m in F1 myself, he’s got heaps of ideas and questions.
“At this stage of my career, there’s stuff I’ve not even thought of that he’s asking me, so he’s very, very good behind the scenes, and good at helping me on the track when he can.
“Definitely happy he’s in my corner.”
Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren MCL60. 29.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Sprint Day.
While McLaren team-mate Lando Norris delivered successive podiums at the British and Hungarian Grands Prix, Piastri is still hunting his first F1 top-three Sunday finish.
However, the Australian, who was denied a maiden podium at Silverstone by the Safety Car, converted a front-row starting spot into second place in the Sprint Race in Belgium.
Piastri even took the opportunity to lead his first-ever laps in the top tier before Max Verstappen in the dominant Red Bull RB19 seized the lead and claimed the victory.
Nevertheless, Piastri admits he has relished the newfound opportunity to battle it out at the front of the F1 field following McLaren’s incredible mid-season turnaround.
“For me, being my first year, it’s been a whirlwind, a busy first half of the season, so the summer break was a nice little time to reflect,” he explained.
“We’re doing what we love, what we wanted to do since we were a little kid.
“At the same time we spend pretty much half of our year at a race track, and you’ve got to make sure you’re having fun, otherwise you’re spending six months of every year wondering what you’re doing.
“[Right now I’m] Loving it, especially as we’re now fighting further at the front as well. It’s a bit more fun when there are some trophies waiting at the end when you get it right.
“We’ve still a few things we want to work on (with the car) but we have a much better baseline for where we want to go in the future now.
Keyword: Piastri happy with Webber support amid ‘whirlwind’ rookie F1 season