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Piastri Confirms 2026 Support Shuffle as Webber Reduces Trackside Role

Piastri describes the change as a practical refocus for 2026, not a reaction to a single incident.

Overview

  • Mark Webber remains Oscar Piastri’s manager but will attend fewer race weekends and concentrate on commercial matters.
  • Pedro Matos, Piastri’s former F2 race engineer, and Australian mental coach Emma Murray will take on expanded trackside roles.
  • Piastri told reporters in Bahrain that there was no single flashpoint behind the decision and emphasized ongoing close contact with Webber.
  • Claims from Ralf Schumacher and a podcast host that McLaren pushed for the shift and that Webber’s relationship with Zak Brown had cooled are reported but unverified.
  • Piastri says adapting to the 2026 cars has been a learning curve and warns that poor starts could cost multiple positions, with the new setup set for its first real test in Melbourne.