P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ex-Formula 1 race winner turned driver manager Mark Webber insists that Oscar Piastri still has “a bit of work to
“Piastri achieved his first podium in Formula 1 in Japan, but he admitted that he needs to improve his race pace after falling 16 seconds behind his teammate Lando Norris in 26 laps. In Qatar, Piastri outperformed Norris in every session, including the Sprint Shootout where he took the top spot before winning the sprint race. While Piastri finished ahead of Norris in the Grand Prix, Norris was held back by team orders in the final stages of the race, despite closing a nearly 10-second gap to his teammate. Mark Webber, Piastri’s manager and former F1 driver, acknowledged that Piastri needs to work on his race management, especially as the FIA has imposed maximum stint lengths. However, Webber praised Piastri’s progress in single-lap performance, as he has out-qualified Norris in the past two rounds and secured his first front-row starting position in Suzuka. Piastri currently sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and McLaren is closing in on Aston Martin in the Constructors’ standings. Norris is optimistic about catching Ferrari in the remaining five races, as the team has had a challenging weekend in Qatar.”
Source: Motorsport Week
