Webber claims ‘world-class’ Piastri has ‘arrived’ in F1

Mark Webber feels Oscar Piastri has “arrived” in Formula 1 following his victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to dispel any doubts about his maiden win.

Piastri delivered a stunning performance around the Baku City Circuit to claim his second success in F1, producing a measured overtake on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on lap 20 followed by a masterclass in defensive driving for the next 26 laps before the rear tyres on the SF-24 fell off a cliff.

It laid to rest what Piastri’s manager Webber described as the “confusing” scenario that surrounded his fellow Australian’s win in Hungary to break his duck given the team orders furore that unfolded at the Hungaroring when team-mate Lando Norris was told to cede first place as he had fortuitously gained the lead via McLaren’s strategy.

Asked on Sky Sports F1 whether that was the best he had seen Piastri drive, a beaming Webber replied: “It was a pretty handy performance, wasn’t it? 

“I mean, he’s had such a great season. All year he’s been very consistent, very quick, all conditions, and that was one of the best drives I’ve ever seen him pull off.

“Obviously, [he was] under a lot of pressure, defensive, very decisive in the move itself, and up against a world-class driver. Charles around here is absolutely magical. So to beat him around here is a pretty big deal.

“To pull off grands prix like that around a place like this, the discipline required, getting the move done and then leading from the front was pretty world-class, to say the least.”

Piastri ‘on fire’

Since finishing runner-up in the sprint and grand prix in Austria, Piastri has scored more points than any other driver, 135 compared to the next best in Norris on 104.

Whilst Piastri has insisted it is easy to cherry-pick statistics, Webber feels his driver has performed well throughout the year

“People forget he was on fire after Saudi, the first two races,” said Webber. “He had, probably Japan, and a couple of little tricky races through there, [and] he didn’t have the upgrade in Miami.

“And then since Miami he’s been one of the biggest points scorers, if not the biggest point scorer, so people are very easy to look at it.

“It’s a perception thing, and he’s done an extraordinary job, of course, as has Lando, the whole team at McLaren. He’s arrived but keeping the feet on the ground and working hard.”