McLaren managed to complete the 2024 season by winning the constructors’ world championship, a trophy that had been missing since 1998. A milestone that seemed difficult to achieve at the beginning of the year, but which, step by step, became not only a possibility but also a beautiful reality. All this was made possible thanks to the commitment of the men and women of Woking, who pushed the car’s development from their base in England, and to the skill of the drivers, who showcased all their qualities.
While such performances were somewhat expected from Lando Norris, now in his sixth year of F1 experience, as the car’s potential increased, it was far less certain for Oscar Piastri, who entered his second year in the premier motorsport category.
Mark Webber, the added value of McLaren
What not everyone knows, however, is that the young Australian, in addition to his great talent, could also rely on the experience and support of his manager, Mark Webber (former teammate of Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull from 2009 to 2013).
An added value that ‘Autosport.com’ delved deeper into during one of the latest interviews with the 23-year-old from the Woking team, especially regarding a possible consultancy on the ‘Papaya Rules’ and driver management: “Yes, but he wasn’t fully involved. In the end, I think there were suggestions here and there. I believe the situation here at McLaren is very different from what Mark experienced during his career.”
“What he did was simply help the team address situations he thought weren’t working well, based on his F1 experience. Fighting for the world championship was quite a new scenario for us as a team. His contribution was useful to everyone. It was more about advice,” concluded Oscar Piastri.
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