At the end of the 2022 Formula One season, Oscar Piastri tested with his current McLaren squad. According to manager Mark Webber, this was crucial requirement.

Mark Webber, a senior F1 racer, called Oscar Piastri’s seat time for McLaren at the 2022 end-of-season test “crucial.”

After a protracted contractual dispute, the Australian was given an early release from his deal with Alpine to race for McLaren in Abu Dhabi.

The experience would be beneficial for Webber as he adjusts to his new workplace the manager of Piastri remarked in an interview with Speedcafe.

“It’s pivotal”, according to Webber.

“Obviously, the working environment is important, particularly for someone like Oscar, who’s so insanely detailed.

“He’s methodical in his approach and McLaren has seen that already, which is great, but you can do as much as you want at the factory as a reserve driver, whatever that is [or] can be, but you need to be racing and preparing for that.

“Ultimately, he’s enjoyed those tests and that was a good scenario, very good for us, brilliant scenario for us to be able to do those.”

Webber: Young racers ‘pretty thin’ on testing

When Webber made his Formula One start in 2002 with Minardi, the teams’ testing mileage was unrestricted. In order to save money and increase field competition, the sport today places restrictions on teams.

Although Piastri participated in a testing program with Alpine in 2022, Webber claims that the absence of running with McLaren still prevents young drivers from getting crucial track time before making their race debut.

“[It] gives them and Oscar some things to think about obviously over the winter in preparation for Bahrain [this] year, because the mileage is pretty short now,” Webber continued.

“I’m a fossil now, I’m an old guy, but back in our day we used to do loads of testing but obviously for the youngsters now, it’s pretty thin on the ground.

“Oscar had done eight days in the car up until June and then had, like, a four-month gap, so it’s not like tennis or golf, it’s pretty hard on these youngsters these days.”

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F1, F1 2022, Formula 1, Grand Prix, McLaren, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Mark Webber