Mark Webber has revealed how Oscar Piastri was apprehensive about replacing Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren and leaving his compatriot without a Formula 1 seat for 2023.
Ricciardo was ousted by McLaren at the end of 2022 after two tumultuous seasons with the side, where he was comprehensively thrashed by then-team-mate Lando Norris.
McLaren capitalised on Alpine’s delay in securing Piastri a place on the F1 grid to pen an agreement with the Australian before negotiating Ricciardo’s premature exit.
Webber, who manages Piastri’s career, believes that Ricciardo’s struggles across his stint with the Woking squad meant he would have been replaced at the team regardless.
“It’s clear that Daniel had two very tough seasons as a McLaren driver,” Webber told GP Racing Magazine.
“If Oscar hadn’t replaced him this year, another driver would have done it. He said at the time that he was taking the seat from another Australian and there aren’t many of us who have raced in Formula 1, but what can you say, it was McLaren’s decision and in the end, it’s clear that it was the right one.”
Amid Alpine’s desire to retain Fernando Alonso alongside Esteban Ocon in 2023, it was touted that the Enstone outfit had been angling to send Piastri on loan to Williams.
With Webber admitting the camp had few choices for an F1 drive this year, the ex-Red Bull racer details how McLaren’s strong desire persuaded them to make the switch.
“People thought we had a lot of options for 2023, but really, we didn’t,” Webber continued. “At McLaren they were fantastic.
“At McLaren they were fantastic and above all, very clear from the start, which was something Oscar loved.
“It was clear to him that someone wanted him to drive for them and it was an easy decision for us.”
Despite Alpine launching a legal appeal that went before the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board, Piastri’s McLaren deal was upheld and he made his F1 debut this past season.
The 22-year-old dealt with the pressure supremely, taking advantage of McLaren’s mid-season resurgence to score successive podium finishes in both Japan and Qatar.
Piastri also converted a pole position on Sprint Saturday into a maiden top-flight victory in Losail, becoming the first F1 rookie since Lewis Hamilton in 2007 to win a race.
