Webber: Piastri rising in F1 against ‘some serious artillery’

Oscar Piastri's rise in Formula 1 continues to gather momentum after a commanding lights-to-flag victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix – a performance his manager, former F1 driver Mark Webber, described as another “huge feather in his cap.”

The McLaren charger, who also won earlier this season in China, became the first multiple race winner of the year, narrowing the gap to teammate Lando Norris to just three points in the Drivers’ Championship.

Speaking to the F1 Nation podcast, Webber offered glowing praise for his 24-year-old protégé, not only for the Bahrain result but for the consistency and maturity that’s underpinning Piastri’s performances.

“Four wins now, 13 podiums, so early in his career is of course a really huge feather in his cap,” said Webber. “As we know, you can have the machinery but it’s often not easy to convert those opportunities.

“He’s converted the two poles straight away, so I think what we’re seeing quite early in his career is a job well done so far."

Smooth Execution in Sakhir

Webber noted that the Bahrain win, arguably Piastri’s most “comfortable” yet, showcased across the weekend not only the Aussie’s raw pace but also his composure and technical precision.

“All the wins, when you’re lucky enough to win a few like he has already, they can be a bit different and that one was probably the most comfortable one he’s had, but there’ll be more stressful ones in the future.

“This whole weekend went very smooth for him. It’s a track which, again, was one that needed work, like Shanghai, and he’s won on both of them so that’s another positive.”

Piastri’s success in Bahrain, a track that has historically been unkind to McLaren, marked the team’s first ever victory at Sakhir, a significant achievement given their Bahraini shareholders.

Mastering the Art of the One-Lap Battle

The victory was also Piastri’s second pole-converted win in succession, highlighting a growing strength over one lap – something Webber believes is crucial when battling the sport’s elite.

“Yeah, I think that’s, as a Formula 1 driver, a big component of your profession, so it’s something that’s not lost on him, that over your journey, when you’re up against Max, Charles [Leclerc], Lando, Lewis [Hamilton], like these guys in the first few years, there’s some serious artillery there over one lap,” he explained.

“And to put it all together, we know how sensitive it is to execute these cars and tyres on Saturday, so because of the intelligence of the boy and understanding what he needs to improve, yeah.

“But as I say to him, you have the most experience the day you retire, so keep learning.”

Read also: Stella reveals ‘a useful characteristic’ driving Piastri progress

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