Mark Webber has opened up about how his title disappointment at Red Bull compares to Oscar Piastri’s in 2025.
Piastri looked in control of the championship heading into the summer break, thanks to a strong start to the season and consistent performances.
But his form dipped in the second half of the campaign, while Norris found another gear, overtaking him in the standings.
Max Verstappen surged late to claim another world title, with Norris finishing second and Piastri dropping to third by just two points.
Mark Webber ‘proud’ of how Oscar Piastri dealt with 2025 title disappointment
Webber, who now manages Piastri’s commercial interests, spoke to RacingNews365 about how their experiences compare.
Webber’s near-misses came later in his career, all while driving for Red Bull. He finished third overall three times: twice behind Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, and once behind Vettel and Jenson Button.
Piastri’s situation is different. He faced similar disappointment much earlier in his career, something Webber says adds context to what he achieved.
“My missed championship was much later in my career,” Webber said. “Whereas his is very early in his career, which is a big feather in his own cap. It’s incredible what he’s been able to do in such a short period of time, which of course we’re immensely proud of.
“When you aim incredibly high and you just miss, it’s something you have to learn from quickly and rebound. It’s how you get back up and that’s what he’s done, what he’s doing. We’ve seen that.
“Of course it was a winter of reflection clearly because that has to happen after such a long campaign.”
Mark Webber believes Oscar Piastri can improve in 2026
Piastri had a tough beginning to the 2026 season after crashing out of his home race in Melbourne during a reconnaissance lap.
In Shanghai, he couldn’t start the Chinese Grand Prix because of an electrical problem with the MCL40’s Mercedes power unit.
But he responded well, picking up consecutive podium finishes in Suzuka and Miami. Looking ahead, Webber believes McLaren will provide Piastri with a car capable of competing for the championship.
He said: “Obviously, two non-finishes weren’t a nice way to start. But then, Suzuka was a phenomenal performance from him.
“I’ve got full faith in the team that McLaren is going to get the car back up and fight for the world title again, so he can go one better.”
Read more:
