Formula One 2023: Mark Webber on Oscar Piastri’s “faultless” performances at British Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri entered Formula One riding the hype train. Closing in on the summer break, how it the impressive Aussie rookie tracking?

Oscar Piastri is developing at an impressive rate. Picture: Getty Images

It was the Silverstone stunner that made the Formula One world sit up and take notice.

But former Australian F1 ace Mark Webber, for one, was not surprised.

Just 10 races into his rookie season in F1, Australian young gun Oscar Piastri commanded the attention of the biggest show in world motorsport when he stunned with a blistering qualifying performance at the British Grand Prix last week.

Revelling in an upgraded McLaren package, 22-year-old Piastri produced the best qualifying performance of his young F1 career to propel his car to third on the grid.

Oscar Piastri widely impressed with his performance at Silverstone. Picture: Getty Images

The weekend could have been even better for the Melbourne racer, who had been on track for a maiden F1 podium save for the unfortunate timing of a late safety car.

Still, Piastri’s fourth-place finish was his best result in F1 to date, barely six months into his rookie year.

But Piastri’s manager Webber, a nine-time Grand Prix winner with Red Bull Racing, said his young charge’s performances had not come “from nowhere”.

Describing his driving at Silverstone as faultless, Webber expected Piastri’s impressive British GP results to give him traction for the rest of the year.

“He absolutely deserved the results that he got. He drove faultlessly throughout the whole weekend, which for a rookie in his tenth race is very impressive,” Webber said.

“He will have learnt an awful lot in the space of a few days and that will stand him in very good stead.

“Credit must go to the team, too. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to bring these upgrades to the car and they deserve a big pat on the back.

Mark Webber (C) has given a rundown of how Oscar Piastri is performing in his debut F1 season. Picture: Getty

“The whole team is now looking forwards rather than backwards and there is naturally a lot of positivity after the weekend’s performance.

“The team are very happy with him, his rate of learning has been superb and that will continue as he banks more and more experience with every race.

“Sunday’s result didn’t come from nowhere. He has been doing a solid job all season.”

It was a weekend which served to underline Piastri’s credentials as an exciting and rare racing talent.

Piastri entered Formula One amid plenty of hype after claiming three consecutive titles, including the F3 and F2 crowns, en route to the top rung in world motorsport.

The Australian’s maturity behind the wheel at Silverstone led to Sky Sports expert Martin Brundle commenting that Piastri “drives like a veteran”.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was also full of praise, hailing Piastri’s performance as “outstanding”.

While the upgraded McLaren looks to have delivered a competitive package after its early season struggles, Webber kept the expectations in check for Piastri when asked what he thought he was capable of in the second half of the year – and beyond.

“He will carry on doing what he’s doing and picking up more and more learning as he goes,” Webber said.

Piastri is still in his rookie season at F1 level. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s had a very solid first half of 2023 and hopefully he can continue to build on that and round off an impressive start to life in F1.

“He’s done 10 races. He has only just entered the sport. His focus is on the present and keeping up his rate of learning, which is the correct thing to do.

“Looking ahead, that is the main concentration, nothing else.’’

Ahead of the next race in Hungary, Piastri sits 11th in the F1 driver standings, two places behind his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris.

Webber said the more experienced Norris had been a great yardstick for Piastri, but was certain the pair could push one another.

“The pair of them are pushing each other, which can only be a good thing for them and the team,” Webber said.

“Lando, with all his experience, is a great benchmark for Oscar and that can only help him.”

Webber said Piastri’s approach to his racing had not changed since entering F1, but his hunger to learn and his racecraft was already fuelling his performances.

“We’ve worked together for a few years now and he is just going about his business in his usual way, and that’s how it will continue,” Webber said.

How far can Piastri go? Picture: AFP Images

“He’s always very switched on, quick to learn and hungry to improve, which are fantastic traits. Across the board, it’s been really pleasing to see.

“He’s got his own style, which has been very successful in the past, and he is showing that racecraft regularly in F1.”

For his part, Webber said he was always on hand for advice – on track or off it – if Piastri needed it, but tried not to “interfere” with his racing.

He said his most important role was helping Piastri navigate the broader F1 world to allow the young star to focus on his job behind the wheel.

“We chat regularly and I’m always there if he needs me, whether at the racetrack or on the phone,” Webber said.

“A lot of my work has been using the lessons I learnt off-track to allow him to focus solely on racing. There are a lot of moving parts in F1 and it’s important to negotiate those successfully because it’s a big business.

“There are obviously bits and pieces that we discuss and share from a racing perspective but he’s his own man and I’m not there to interfere.”