Webber offers insight into 'very special' Piastri fighting mindset

Former F1 driver Mark Webber has insisted that "very special talent" Oscar Piastri understands that "actions speak louder than words", with that being how the McLaren driver operates. 

Piastri has made an excellent start to life as an F1 driver and is already a race winner after just 36 grand prix starts. 

The young Australian was victorious on his 35th career start in the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where he overtook Lando Norris at the opening corner to claim the lead and, ultimately, victory. 

He has been dubbed as a potential world champion by many and has been followed closely by Webber, who has been his manager since early 2020.

Webber understands the difficulties of being in F1 and the mindset required to be at the front, with "potential" being a word he dislikes. 

Despite this, Piastri is proving that he has the actions to back up how highly he is rated.

“It’s been enjoyable working closely with him,” Webber told PlanetF1. “He’s obviously a very special talent. He knows what’s right for the future, to continue to unleash that talent.

“Potential is a word I hate. Potential is whatever potential is, but you need to make sure that you go out and he knows actions speak louder than words and that’s how he operates.

“So he’s had a very, very special start to his career. There’s so much experience on those first two or three rows, especially with just how sensitive the cars are now and how tight the times are, which is really a credit to him that he’s been able to hang out there, week in week out.”

Australian's F1 challenge

In Hungary, Piastri became the first Australian race winner since Daniel Ricciardo won the 2021 Italian Grand Prix for McLaren, in what was the team's last one-two prior to the recent round in Budapest. 

Making it to F1 is no easy feat for Australian drivers, who often have to move to Europe at a young age to stand any chance of making it to the championship. 

Despite this, several young drivers from Australia make the move, with the nation having a huge love for motorsport. In Webber's eyes, his home country's love for racing goes back to one individual.

“I think it goes back to Jack Brabham,” Webber said. “Jack Brabham was the original, he showed us the way in, and in more ways than one.

“But look, it’s hard geographically really, really hard and so when you get over here, you’ve got to make it. It’s a long way home with your tail between your legs to go. So you want to make it work.

“We’re talking about the drivers that have made it but a lot haven’t and that’s the thing. So our conversion is still a challenge for us. But the sport and Formula 1, we have one of the best grands prix in the world.

“Australians love racing, they support Formula 1, even though the time difference sometimes can be a challenge. But in terms of pound for pound, it’s a country where we just love our Formula 1.

“We’re in safe hands for the future obviously. Oscar is just starting his career out, which is awesome but, yeah, Daniel [Ricciardo] and I, and, you know, AJ [Alan Jones] so there’s not many guys that have won at that level. So hopefully in the future, we can continue to contribute to the sport.”