Mark Webber has warned Formula 1 that Oscar Piastri will only get better as he is “incredibly hungry” and is not yet close to exploiting its full potential.
The former Red Bull driver also praised the extraordinary turnaround that saw McLaren secure its first constructors' title of this century in Abu Dhabi.
Webber now manages Piastri who, in tandem with Lando Norris, took McLaren from mid-pack to the brink of glory in the space of seven months.
“It’s been an extraordinary turnaround from one end of the grid to the other.”
“We are surprised by the performance. The team is not dominating, it is still a long way off, but it is good progress.”
Webber, who scored nine victories during his own F1 career, reveals a conversation he had with Piastri when his young compatriot first joined McLaren from Alpine in September 2022.
The Woking-based team were then fifth in the constructors' standings, 600 points behind Red Bull, and gave no indication they would challenge for a first title since 1998 in the near future.
“I told Oscar the position was shocking but the gap wasn't. It's a second and a half. If you start doing things right the progress curve on the grid can be quite Impressive.”
“They certainly haven't run the factory at its best. The new wind tunnel has been great, but it takes the right people under the direction of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, to fine-tune things, positions, new roles and restore confidence in the organization.”
The team that finished fourth in 2023, still more than 500 points behind Red Bull, finally won the title at the final round in 2024.
Since Miami, when Norris notched the first of his four victories, Piastri has also won twice – in Hungary and Azerbaijan – and the two men have shared another 15 podium places.
“When Oscar came to McLaren, the confidence of the team… it was difficult times at times. So it was impressive for them to come out of it and rebuild the foundations brilliantly and so quickly.”
“Oscar has a great future with them, there’s no doubt about it, you’re not at your peak in the first 18 months of your career.”
“What we don't know is how the trajectory is going to evolve. We don't know when it's going to stabilize. There's still a way to go. He knows he still has a long way to go.”
“It's action, Oscar talks on the track. It's his way, his style. Very reserved but incredibly hungry. It's been like that since we've known him.”
Asked if he could end Max Verstappen's grip on the drivers' title this year, Webber added: “Oscar will be ready. Of course he is.”
“He is already proving himself remarkably well. In the future, this is his goal, he wants to fight for it. He is in great shape at the moment.”
“You can't rest on your laurels and he knows that. Someone could come out with an absolute rocket next year. It only takes one car for it to be very boring. It could be McLaren, it could be someone else.”
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