Jonas Leo
Melbourne, Australia – Australian fast-food chain Grill’d has issued a tongue-in-cheek apology addressing widespread social media speculation regarding an alleged "Oscar Piastri curse." The lighthearted response from the popular burger brand follows a revision of its promotional campaign tied to the McLaren Formula 1 driver, a change that coincided with a period of fluctuating performance for the young Australian motorsport talent.
The initial Grill’d promotion offered customers a complimentary "bonus" burger each time the 24-year-old Piastri secured a podium finish in a Grand Prix event. This campaign was launched amidst Piastri’s impressive rookie season, which saw him quickly establish himself as a formidable presence on the grid. His breakthrough moment arrived with a third-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, a significant milestone for any debutant in the fiercely competitive world of Formula 1. This was followed by another remarkable third-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix and a sprint race victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, further solidifying his status as a rising star.
However, in the races immediately following these successes, Piastri encountered a more challenging period, where consistent Grand Prix podiums proved elusive. While his raw pace remained evident, circumstances and car characteristics in certain events prevented him from repeating his earlier top-three finishes. This perceived dip in performance prompted Grill’d to modify its promotional terms. The offer was adjusted from rewarding a free burger for a podium finish to simply providing a bonus burger whenever Piastri participated in a race, regardless of his final position.
The alteration quickly garnered attention across social media platforms, with fans and motorsport enthusiasts playfully attributing Piastri’s recent challenges to a "curse" supposedly invoked by the burger brand’s changed terms. The humorous conjecture spread rapidly, leading to Grill’d’s public statement.
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"To everyone who believes in the ‘curse’," Grill’d posted in its official response, "We’d like to apologise. To you, and to F1 fans everywhere. We never meant to create a burger so delicious it could change the course of F1 history." The statement continued, maintaining a jovial yet supportive tone, "So yes, we’re sorry. Sorry our burgers slap that hard. Sure, we can take a joke about a curse – but let’s be real, we’d never bet against a guy like Oscar Piastri. He’s out homegrown Aussie hero, and we’ll always be in his corner. Today, tomorrow, and forever, we’ve got your back, Oscar. Team Grill’d." The message underscored the brand’s unwavering support for the driver, framing the entire episode as a good-natured jest.
Piastri’s rookie season in Formula 1 has been a narrative of remarkable highs interspersed with the inevitable learning curves and challenges inherent in top-tier motorsport. After his Italian Grand Prix podium, he continued to demonstrate his potential with a strong P3 at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and an impressive sprint race win in Qatar. However, subsequent Grand Prix events saw a less consistent run of results. Following his Qatar Sprint victory and eventual DNF in the main race, Piastri recorded a DNF at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, an eighth-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and a fifth-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix. These results, while respectable for a rookie, marked a departure from the consistent podium contention he had shown earlier in the season.
This period of fluctuating form has had implications for his position in the Drivers’ Championship standings. At the time of the original report, Piastri held second place, trailing his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 24 points. He maintained a 25-point lead over the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, who occupied third position. With three rounds, including one sprint race, remaining in the season, the competition for championship positions remained intense, highlighting the pressure on Piastri to regain his early-season momentum.
Piastri himself has openly acknowledged the complexities of adapting to varying conditions and the demanding nature of Formula 1. Following his fifth-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix, he offered insights into the challenges he faced. "I think the last three weekends in particular are a similar trend," Piastri explained, referencing the races in Austin, Mexico, and Brazil. "I think Austin had to drive very, very differently. Mexico, the same. And it’s kind of one thing adapting to different conditions, but when the way you’ve driven for the whole season has worked so well, it’s kind of difficult to go away from that, I would say."
His comments highlighted the fine margins in Formula 1, where subtle changes in track surface, ambient temperature, and tyre behaviour necessitate significant adjustments to driving style and car setup. Piastri elaborated on specific issues, particularly concerning tyre performance. "The soft tyre was obviously behaving very strangely this weekend. It was hardly better than the medium," he noted, indicating difficulties in extracting optimal performance from the softer compound, a critical factor for qualifying and race pace. He also pointed to unusual grip conditions experienced during qualifying sessions. "The grip conditions yesterday were, again, very bizarre. To not go any quicker from Q1 to Q3 is almost unheard of, especially after so much rain." Such anomalies can disproportionately affect drivers, especially those still in their inaugural season.
Acknowledging the broader context, Piastri added, "So clearly something has been a bit odd. The cars will be more or less the same. We’re trying to put it in the same window, but just other factors have made things difficult. But I’m also trying to work on how I can adapt to that better and kind of add more tools to my arsenal." This reflective statement underscores his determination to evolve as a driver, to expand his repertoire of techniques, and to better manage the unpredictable variables that define Grand Prix racing.
Piastri’s rookie season has unfolded against a backdrop of significant mid-season improvements by the McLaren team. After a challenging start to the year, the Woking-based outfit implemented a series of upgrades that transformed the MCL60 into a highly competitive machine, capable of challenging for podiums and even victories. This rapid ascent placed both Piastri and Norris in a position to regularly contend at the sharp end of the grid, simultaneously raising expectations and intensifying the pressure to perform. For a rookie, consistently extracting the maximum from a rapidly developing car, while simultaneously learning new tracks and adapting to varying conditions, presents a unique and formidable challenge.
The remaining races of the season – including events in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, in addition to the sprint race component – offered Piastri further opportunities to demonstrate his capability and secure a strong finish to his debut year. His focus remained on refining his approach, adding to his skill set, and consistently delivering performances that reflect his undeniable talent. While the "Grill’d curse" remains a lighthearted jest among fans, Piastri’s commitment to overcoming performance challenges illustrates the serious dedication required to succeed at the pinnacle of motorsport. His journey continues to be closely watched by fans, his team, and indeed, his supportive burger sponsor.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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