Mark Webber has opened up on how he helped guide Oscar Piastri in the early parts of his career. Image: XPB Images
The nine-time grand prix winner reflected on his relationship with Piastri during an appearance on the Straight Talk with Mark Bouris podcast, explaining how his experiences at the highest level have given him a bank of knowledge to pass on.
Webber, who turns 50 on Thursday, used the conversation to look back on his career, the people he encountered along the way and the importance he now places on sharing some of what he learned.
Asked about his definition of success, Webber pointed towards longevity and the discipline required to remain at an elite level before highlighting the responsibility that can follow.
“The first two or three years in your career, they’re the hardest. I think in most sports, because if you can get through those first two or three years at that elite level, then you’re sort of like it’s not getting easier, but you’ve sort of broken your way through,” he explained.
“I always look at people that have a long career in anything. That’s speaks volumes to their standards and their discipline. And their success.
“But you need to share that. Give back a bit.”
That philosophy has extended into his work with Piastri, who Webber has managed and mentored during his progression through the junior ranks and into Formula 1.
Webber played a central role in navigating Piastri’s move from Alpine to McLaren before his F1 debut and has remained a significant figure around the Melbourne driver throughout his F1 career.
“It’s been so enjoyable to help guide him early in his career,” Webber said.
“I think that it’s hard to get that strategy piece right to get it. So to help Oscar in that early part of his career. And he’s an immense talent, we know that.
“So it’s been enjoyable to do that.”
Webber said his value did not simply come from what he achieved himself, but also from the lessons absorbed while competing against and observing some of the biggest names in sport.
He pointed to his experiences around Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton during his racing career, as well as time spent with figures from outside motorsport including Lance Armstrong and Maria Sharapova.
“Some of my biggest lessons of course was getting done by the Schumachers, or seeing how Seb [Vettel] operated, or seeing how Lewis [Hamilton] operated,” he said.
“I’ve done cycling with Lance Armstrong. I’ve hung out with Maria Sharapova. Phenomenal woman. What she’s done. She’s had her own controversies, but incredible how she goes about things.
“So this snapshot of all this, and it’s a melting pot of information. Just sort of go, these are the things which we can contribute towards and help you, and blend it all in.”
The relationship between Webber and Piastri has evolved as the McLaren driver has become more established in F1.
Webber stepped back from being a regular trackside presence ahead of the 2026 season, with former Piastri F2 engineer Pedro Matos and Australian performance coach Emma Murray joining his immediate race weekend support structure.
He remained Piastri’s manager despite the reshuffle, with more of his attention shifting towards the commercial side of the Australian’s career.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast earlier this year, Piastri explained that the changing dynamic is also a product of his own growing experience, having relied more heavily on Webber for guidance when he first arrived in F1.
“I think when I first got into F1, Mark was coming up with questions and ideas that literally hadn’t even entered my brain,” he said.
“And I would hear him say it and go, ‘how the hell did he think of that?’ Or, ‘how am I ever going to think of that?’
“I think there’s naturally less and less for Mark to do on a racing side of things the more experienced I become. But I think, especially in the first couple of years, there’s some lessons you have to learn the hard way and there’s no other way of doing it.
“But I’m sure there could have been plenty of other slightly annoying or tough lessons to learn that I was probably spared because of Mark’s experience and Mark’s guidance.”
Piastri sits seventh in the 2026 drivers’ championship on 104 points after finishing sixth at the Dutch Grand Prix.