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Piastri Confirms Webber to Scale Back Trackside Role as McLaren Prepares for 2026

The McLaren driver presents the reshuffle as preparation for the 2026 rules shift that will demand more from drivers.

Overview

  • Oscar Piastri says Mark Webber remains his manager but will attend fewer races this season, calling the change a planned adjustment rather than a reaction to any incident.
  • Pedro Matos, who worked with Piastri in his junior titles, is set to take a more visible race‑weekend role, with performance coach Emma Murray also featuring more in his program.
  • Piastri emphasizes there is no conflict with Webber or McLaren and describes the new setup as a different structure for 2026.
  • Team principal Andrea Stella reports encouraging reliability and learning from Bahrain testing and reiterates McLaren’s pledge to equip both Piastri and Lando Norris to maximize performance.
  • Some media and paddock voices have portrayed Webber’s reduced presence as a step back, though those interpretations remain unverified as Piastri focuses on the 2026 technical reset.