Australian Burger Chain Apologises for ‘Curse’ as Oscar Piastri Looks to Revive F1 Campaign

Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri is working to salvage his championship ambitions after a difficult run of races, and even a restaurant chain has stepped forward to apologise for a promotional campaign some fans jokingly blame for his sudden downturn in form.

The fast-food chain Grill’d, which partnered with Piastri earlier this year to offer free burgers every time he finished on the podium, issued a tongue-in-cheek apology this week, acknowledging that his results have sharply declined since the promotion relaunched. While the company framed the statement as light-hearted, many fans have embraced the idea of a “burger curse” as Piastri struggles to return to the podium.

A Promotion That Backfired

The Piastri 81 Burger first debuted ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, coinciding with a strong period for the 24-year-old McLaren driver. At the time, Piastri was enjoying consistency and had finished on the podium in Italy, momentarily holding the lead in the drivers’ standings. The burger deal offered fans free meals whenever he cracked the top three—an idea that looked financially risky for Grill’d but promising for the driver’s momentum.

However, since the promotion relaunched five races ago, Piastri has not finished in the top three once. Over that same stretch, McLaren teammate Lando Norris has surged ahead, claiming the championship lead and widening the gap in both points and performances.

While the correlation is clearly coincidence, the light-hearted narrative has caught on among fans. Grill’d acknowledged this trend, writing in a public statement that they “may have upset the racing gods” and would reconsider how and when the promotion returns.

Recent On-Track Struggles

Piastri’s slump has been marked by incidents that have cost him valuable points, including collisions, race-ending contact, and penalties that compounded otherwise competitive showings. The decline stands in stark contrast to his early-season form, when he appeared poised to challenge for the title outright.

His struggles have not been attributed to mechanical issues or a major change in team strategy, but to a mix of aggressive race circumstances, qualification setbacks, and what Piastri himself described as “avoidable mistakes.” Analysts have noted that Norris’ clean streak has amplified pressure within McLaren, although team leadership maintains both drivers receive equal priority.

McLaren’s Big Picture

The British squad has made major developmental gains over the past two seasons, transforming from a midfield team into a championship contender. Team principal Andrea Stella has praised both drivers but acknowledged that Piastri’s setbacks must be addressed.

Despite his lack of podiums in recent weeks, Piastri remains a consistent points finisher, preventing his title hopes from fully slipping away. The team continues to emphasise long-term stability rather than short-term panic, pointing to ongoing upgrades expected later in the season.

A Partnership Built on National Pride

The Grill’d partnership was initially seen as a milestone for Australian motorsport marketing. Piastri, born in Melbourne and quickly rising to global recognition, endorsed the brand to reinforce his connection to fans back home. The promotion generated strong social engagement, particularly during the Melbourne Grand Prix, where domestic supporters saw him as a realistic contender on home soil.

Even with the so-called curse, Grill’d confirmed it remains committed to supporting Piastri and hinted the promotion could return when “the cosmic tide shifts.”

A Driver Focused on Moving Forward

While the burger curse has become a playful footnote in fan discussions, Piastri remains focused on performance rather than superstition. In recent interviews, he noted that while the results have been frustrating, there is still time to recover.

“We’ve had great pace this season,” he said. “Now we just need clean weekends and results will come.”

His priority now is re-establishing consistency and closing the gap to both his teammate and key title rivals. If the results return, the promotion may return too—just hopefully without the misfortune.

For now, the burger company has taken responsibility in jest, and fans are waiting to see whether Piastri can break the streak where it matters most: on the track.