Mark Webber insists Oscar Piastri feels no pressure on the eve of his maiden Australian GP and “doesn’t need any advice” ahead of his Melbourne debut despite McLaren’s woes
Mark Webber believes that Oscar Piastri does not need any advice ahead of his Australian Grand Prix debut, despite a difficult start to his first season in Formula 1.
The 21-year-old replaced Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren after spending last season as Alpine’s reserve driver and arrives at Albert Park after two challenging races.
Having retired in Bahrain at the season opener due to electrical problems, Piastri finished 15th in Saudi Arabia as McLaren’s problems continued.
But Webber insisted that the bumpy start to his Formula 1 career will not dampen the young Melbourne’s spirit ahead of his home Grand Prix.
“It’s a tremendous moment for him to race here,” Webber told News Corp.
He is looking forward to it, he is very relaxed.
Mark Webber thinks Oscar Piastri doesn’t need any advice ahead of his maiden Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne this weekend
The young Australian has had a rocky start to his debut season in Formula 1
“It’s a 23rd race on the calendar, it’s a home race of course, but he’s looking forward to getting out to the paddock and getting to work.”
Webber, who runs Piastri, finished sixth in Melbourne on his Formula 1 debut and made 215 starts in the sport between 2002 and 2013.
Piastri’s career is in its early days, but Webber is confident the young gunslinger doesn’t need any advice from him.
‘I don’t think so [he is feeling extra pressure],’ he said.
“Once he puts on the helmet, is in the car and drives around the track, he wants a result at every circuit in the world, no matter if it’s Bahrain or Saudi Arabia.” [Arabia] or here.
‘He doesn’t need anything [advice from me]. He’s really looking forward to the weekend.
Formula 2 and Formula 3 world champion in 2020 and 2021, Piastri has long been considered one of Formula 1’s rising stars.
But he was keen to keep expectations in check ahead of his debut season, advising it might be time for him to get used to the demands of Formula 1 after spending last season as Alpine’s reserve driver.
His caution seems to have been justified, although it wasn’t his fault as McLaren have been well off pace in the first two outings.
He’s been gone so long. It just shows you that it’s still hard to take now, obviously, the gap that I had,” Webber added.
“So, he’s catching up again and learning as much as he can.”
Piastri retired at the season opener in Bahrain and finished 15th in Saudi Arabia
Webber finished fifth on his Formula 1 debut in Melbourne and was allowed a podium finish, much to the delight of the Australian fans.
Earlier this week, Alan Jones was even more optimistic about Piastri’s prospects, endorsing him to become world champion.
Since Jones claimed the world title in 1980, no other Australian has finished top of the drivers’ standings, but the 76-year-old is confident Piastri can emulate his triumph.
“I think he can become a world champion,” Jones told the herald sun on Saturday.
“Once in a while someone comes along who has an enormous amount of talent and I think it’s one of those types of people.”