Webber: Piastri wants to be there ‘for the good and bad’

Mark Webber commended Oscar Piastri on a job well done in the Australian Grand Prix, insisting last weekend’s chaotic event in Melbourne delivered to his protégé a “phenomenal experience”.

Piastri steered clear of the turmoil and pandemonium that marked the race at Albert Park, bringing his McLaren home in eighth position and scoring his first career points in F1.

But beyond the result, Webber noted the wealth of learnings taken away by the 22-year-old rookie, and a dose experience that money just “can’t buy”.

“It’s nice to see someone go through such a phenomenal experience,” Webber told the F1 Nation podcast.

“Every day is new for him. He’s getting gradually better, which you do with experience, as any of us that have performed at an elite level [know].

“It’s just experience that you can’t buy, like all the restarts, and then the qualifying and then mixed conditions in practice at a new circuit.

“[Piastri left Melbourne] with a truckload more experience for next year, which is great. So the rollercoaster is real. You want to be there for the good and the bad moments.”

Piastri is at the very beginning of what Webber hopes will be a prosperous career at the highest level of motorsport.

And Webber would love nothing more than to see the ambitious young racer’s track record one day surpass his own achievements as a Grand Prix driver.

Read also: Piastri on ‘the good end of things’ with points after ‘crazy’ race

“If I talk to him about my career, he falls asleep!” joked Webber, who won nine F1 races in his career.

“He’s got big ambitions to try and have a glass of red with me down the line and destroy my trophy cabinet. I would be very, very happy if that happens, let me tell you.

“But Oscar’s emotional regulation is quite extraordinary. He can absorb information really well, and he needs to, because this is the toughest test in motorsport for a driver.”

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