Mark Webber admits: “Oscar Piastri will stay with McLaren for now, but Ferrari is the ultimate goal”. Mark Webber has suggested that Oscar Piastri will remain at McLaren for now.

Mark Webber, manager of Australian driver Oscar Piastri, has hinted at growing interest in Ferrari, admitting that Maranello represents an “ultimate destination” for his young protégé. While the McLaren driver remains firmly focused on his current team, the comments have reignited speculation about his long-term future in Formula 1.

The driver market is heating up

Although the Formula 1 driver lineups for the 2026 season are expected to remain largely unchanged, with drivers eager to see how the new technical regulations will reshape the competitive order, significant moves could happen in 2027. In recent weeks, statements from Raymond Vermeulen—manager of Max Verstappen—and Nicolas Todt, who represents Charles Leclerc, have made it clear that both are keeping their options open despite existing long-term contracts with Red Bull and Ferrari.

And Webber joins the conversation…

Back in March 2025, Oscar Piastri signed a multi-year contract extension with McLaren. However, recent months have seen an increase in speculation surrounding the current Formula 1 championship leader. On September 29, motorsport journalist Paolo Ciccarone reported on RMC Motori a few telling words from Mark Webber himself: “For now, he must stay at McLaren. He needs to complete his development process, and even though Ferrari remains the ultimate goal, he has to reach that final level first. In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt if he improved his Italian a little…,” Mark Webber added with a touch of humor and subtle provocation.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Webber has been linked to Ferrari. In the past, the former Red Bull Racing driver came close to joining the Maranello team as Fernando Alonso’s teammate, replacing Felipe Massa for the 2014 season. However, it was Webber himself who eventually declined the offer, choosing to stay with Red Bull instead.

The possibility of a future partnership between Piastri and Ferrari has recently resurfaced thanks to veteran journalist Roger Benoit, who wrote in the Swiss outlet Blick: “Norris and Piastri will remain together for now. But the Australian already has his eyes set on Ferrari for 2027.”