20251023-0340
Mark Webber at the Mexican Grand Prix 2025
F1 News

Webber on Piastri: "He needs to find the strength to fight back"

15:40, 11 Nov
Updated: 15:47, 11 Nov
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Former Formula One driver and manager to Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber, has spoken on Piastri's recent dip in performance since the summer break, which has left the Australian 24-points down on championship rival, Lando Norris.
"We will get Oscar back on track. I don't think he lacks motivation, to put it that way."
- Mark Webber on Channel 4
Since F1 returned from the summer break in late August, Piastri has managed just a single race victory, at the Dutch Grand Prix. Meanwhile, McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, took the lead of the championship by just a single point after a dominant victory at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Webber revealed: "Oscar has had a tough time, but now it's about strength of character. It's about activating the deep inner drive you need to come back. He now needs to find the strength to fight back."
Piastri was looking to strike back against Norris at the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend, however in the sprint race, the Australian was caught out by standing water on the inside kerb at Turn 3, and ended up losing control of his MCL39, crashing out of the sprint race.
oscar-piastri-jpg
Photo: Race Pictures
During the Grand Prix, Piastri was involved in a collision with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc at Turn 1, an incident which put Leclerc out of the race. Piastri would receive a 10-second time penalty for this incident, and despite having overtaken Antonelli and Leclerc, the Australian was also unable to keep up with Norris.
This incident also gave Piastri more penalty points, as the 24-year old now sits on 6 points, behind only four other drivers.
Norris went on to take victory, but Piastri could only manage 5th position, with the charging Max Verstappen claiming third place, and George Russell successfully defending from Piastri in the closing stages of the race.
Piastri now sits 24-points adrift of Norris in the World Championship.

Webber confident in Piastri

Webber continued: "It's incredible in itself that he's fighting for a world championship title so early in his career. To be in contention for the title in only his third year is rare in Formula 1. There aren't many who have achieved that so early in their careers; Lewis Hamilton is one of them."
Hamilton battled Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen during his rookie season, losing out to Raikkonen by just a single point, before going on to win the championship in his second season.
Webber reiterated: "When I was fighting for the title, I was already a veteran. I was at the end of my career; Oscar is just starting out."
F1 returns for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in two weeks' time. With this time away from the circuit, can Piastri find what he needs to regain his confidence from earlier in the season, and strike back against Norris in the final three races?

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