Oscar Piastri led the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship for a long time, but recently lost a lot of ground in the title fight against his McLaren rival Lando Norris and world champion Max Verstappen. But his manager doesn’t doubt Piastri’s abilities in the cockpit in the least.
Okay, Mark Webber, as the manager of Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri, is somewhat obliged to praise him. The accolade that the Australian gave his compatriot in an interview with “Sport Bild” is nevertheless remarkable.
Piastri is definitely an “iceman” à la Kimi Räikkönen, who shows his emotions “but not outwardly,” said Webber. “Oscar is more of a guy like Roger Federer or Jannik Sinner,” the former Red Bull driver compared his protégé to two tennis greats.
“Oscar goes his own way. He doesn’t want to be who he isn’t. He is who he is. I think a lot of people like that about him,” continued Webber. Piastri is “really unique. He’s not shy, but he’s not one for the spotlight either. He’s hungry, has great enthusiasm, great wishes and goals,” said the nine-time Grand Prix winner, describing the McLaren man.
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In the cockpit, the 24-year-old has “a rock-solid belief in himself – without being arrogant. Self-confidence and arrogance – these are two pairs of boots,” emphasized Webber.
Formula 1: Oscar Piastri recently behind in the 2025 World Cup fight
The manager liked the comparisons with Räikkönen, but especially the F1 icons Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, and Webber made no secret of this and went one better.
“Maybe he’s a kind of mix between Lauda, Prost and Ayrton Senna,” said Webber with a laugh. Lauda and “Professor” Prost were considered gifted analysts on the track, Senna a master of the limit.
Recently, however, Piastri didn’t always bring his class to the asphalt. In Brazil he lost control of his car during the sprint in the wet “Senna S” and remained without points. In the race he received a penalty after a collision with Kimi Antonelli.
At the city race in Baku in September he ended up in the wall after a driving error and received his first zero of the season.
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In the Drivers’ World Championship, Piastri is 24 points behind Norris with three Grands Prix and one sprint remaining and still has every chance of winning his first title.