That is a massive shift behind the scenes. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has officially parted ways with his management team, headed by nine-time Grand Prix winner Mark Webber and his partner Ann Webber. A joint statement released on the Monday after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix confirmed that both sides had mutually agreed to terminate their management agreement, sending the Australian toward a brand-new setup for his career.
It is the end of an era that built a proper contender. The Webbers first joined forces with Piastri back in 2019, guiding him through a staggering junior career where he collected the Formula Renault Eurocup crown, the FIA Formula 3 Championship title, and then the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2021. When the rebranded Alpine team completely dropped the ball and failed to promote him from reserve, Mark Webber stepped in and negotiated the deal that put Piastri into a McLaren seat for 2023 to replace Daniel Ricciardo.
That move set off a rocket under his career. Piastri grabbed two podiums in his rookie year, claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory in Hungary the following season, and charged hard through a 2025 campaign before losing out to team mate Lando Norris in the title fight. With the Webbers taking a back seat this year and making only fleeting appearances at the track, Pedro Matos (his former race engineer at Prema) and mental coach Emma Murray stepped up to take on much larger trackside roles.
"I'd like to thank Mark and Ann for all their support and advice over the years," Piastri said. "Their guidance has been invaluable, particularly in navigating the beginning of my F1 career. I wish them all the best going forward."
Mark Webber also reflected on the journey: "We are proud to have played a pivotal role in the formative years of Oscar's career and to have placed him in F1 so that he could compete at the front so early on. Following our reduced trackside involvement this season, we have collectively agreed that now is an appropriate time to bring our management agreement to a close. This will allow Oscar to build on his achievements under a new management structure, and for us to embark on our new ventures. We wish Oscar all the very best for a long and successful career."
Right now, the 25-year-old sits seventh in the Drivers' Championship as he transitions into this new chapter of his racing life.
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