Mark Webber has opened up about the emotional toll of narrowly missing out on a Formula 1 world title, drawing a compelling comparison between his own heartbreak at Red Bull and the recent disappointment of his protégé, Oscar Piastri.
Heading into the 2025 summer break, Piastri looked firmly in control of the championship. A blistering start to the season and rock-solid consistency had him leading the pack. But as the second half of the campaign unfolded, his form dipped just as teammate Lando Norris found another gear. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen surged late to snatch another world title, leaving Norris in second and Piastri a heartbreaking third—by a mere two points.
Webber, who now manages Piastri’s commercial interests, shared his thoughts with RacingNews365 on how their experiences stack up. Webber’s own near-misses came later in his career, all while driving for Red Bull. He finished third overall three times—twice behind Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, and once behind Vettel and Jenson Button. Piastri, by contrast, faced that same sting much earlier in his career, and Webber says that makes all the difference.
“My missed championship was much later in my career,” Webber explained. “Whereas his is very early in his career, which is a big feather in his own cap. It’s incredible what he’s been able to do in such a short period of time, which of course we’re immensely proud of.”
Webber emphasized the resilience required to bounce back from such a narrow miss. “When you aim incredibly high and you just miss, it’s something you have to learn from quickly and rebound. It’s how you get back up and that’s what he’s done, what he’s doing. We’ve seen that. Of course it was a winter of reflection clearly because that has to happen after such a long campaign.”
The 2026 season got off to a rocky start for Piastri. He crashed out of his home race in Melbourne during a reconnaissance lap, and then couldn’t start the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai due to an electrical problem with the MCL40’s Mercedes power unit. But true to form, he responded with grit, racking up consecutive podium finishes in Suzuka and Miami.
Looking ahead, Webber is confident McLaren will give Piastri the machinery to fight for the championship. “Obviously, two non-finishes weren’t a nice way to start,” he added, “but the team is committed, and we believe they’ll provide a car capable of competing at the very front.”