Oscar Piastri says he is not focused on his manager Mark Webber’s title loss 15 years ago as he prepares to bid for the championship this weekend.
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Webber, who has overseen much of Piastri’s career, went into the final race of 2010 eight points behind leader Fernando Alonso. In a dramatic finish to that season both Alonso and Webber lost the title to Webber’s team mate Sebastian Vettel, who had been third before the last round.
Piastri was nine years old at the time and remembers the story of Webber’s missed chance. Now aiming to secure the title at the same circuit where Webber’s hopes were dashed, Piastri was clear that his motivation is personal rather than about avenging his manager.
“For me, I’m trying to do it for myself,” Piastri said. “Ultimately, as racing drivers, we’re pretty selfish people most of the time. We’re the ones in the car and we do it for our own pride.
“Of course there are many people who help along the way—family, friends, managers and others who supported you—but you start in this sport because you want to achieve it for yourself. That comes first.”
Webber retired from Formula 1 three years later without securing a world title. “I’m sure Mark would love to see me win,” Piastri added, “but I’m not doing this to pay him back or to settle something from the past.”
If Piastri wins the championship he would become the first Australian world champion in 45 years. The last Australian to claim the title was Alan Jones, who won with Williams in 1980.
Australia’s most successful world champion remains Jack Brabham, a three-time winner in 1958, 1959 and 1966. Brabham’s 1966 crown is notable as the only time a driver won the world championship in a car built by his own team.
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