Australian Restaurant Chain Apologises for ‘Burger Curse’ Linked to Oscar Piastri’s F1 Season
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – An Australian restaurant chain has issued an apology to Formula One driver Oscar Piastri after a playful “burger curse” was jokingly blamed for a mid-season slump, as the McLaren driver seeks to reignite his championship hopes in the remaining races. Grill’d, the burger chain, had previously offered Piastri a free burger for every podium finish, but jokingly attributed a run of disappointing results to the driver enjoying too many celebratory meals.
The lighthearted exchange underscores the intense scrutiny surrounding Piastri’s 2025 championship bid. The 23-year-old Australian sensation, currently locked in a fierce battle with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, had a blistering start to the season, securing seven grand prix wins in his third year of Formula One – a feat rarely achieved so early in a driver’s career. Though, recent races have seen his performance falter, prompting the playful accusations and ultimately, the apology from Grill’d.
Former F1 driver Mark webber, a nine-time grand prix winner himself, understands the pressures of a title run-in. He emphasized the importance of Piastri’s achievements thus far,noting,”It’s obviously an amazing journey so early in his career to fight for a world title. Year three is pretty unprecedented – I think there was Lewis [Hamilton] but there haven’t been many people that have done this so early in his career.”
Webber highlighted the unique circumstances of Piastri’s challenge, contrasting it with his own championship attempt later in his career. “When I went for my championship, I was an old dog. I was really old at the end of my career. He’s early in his career, so there’s different nuances there,” Webber explained. “To see him so young,year three,fighting for a world title quite quickly,it’s pretty surreal and bizarre. A lot of drivers don’t fight for a title once in their career, so you’ve got to try and find the positives.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Webber believes Piastri’s early success is a remarkable accomplishment. the outcome of the 2025 season remains uncertain, but the Australian driver’s performance has already established him as a formidable force in formula One.
