Grill'd Responds to 'Burger Curse' Conspiracy Around Oscar Piastri's F1 Season
Australian burger chain Grill'd has humorously responded to social media claims that its 'Oscar Piastri 81 burger' 'cursed' the F1 driver's championship bid. After Piastri's performance dipped and a free burger promotion was quietly changed, fans created a viral 'burger curse' conspiracy. Grill'd, while not apologizing for backing their 'homegrown Aussie hero,' leaned into the fun, stating they merely made a burger 'so delicious it could change the course of F1 history.'
Rumors have circulated that Australian burger chain Grill'd inadvertently 'cursed' Oscar Piastri's championship bid with its special 'Oscar Piastri 81 burger'. Grill'd, however, is unapologetic, stating they 'didn't mean to create a burger so delicious it could change the course of F1 history' and that they will 'never bet against' the Australian driver.
Why it matters:
- A fun, lighthearted conspiracy theory has taken hold among F1 fans, linking Oscar Piastri's recent dip in performance to a burger promotion by Grill'd.
- This viral social media buzz highlights the strong engagement of fans with their favorite drivers and the creative ways brands interact with sports culture.
- It also shows how a simple marketing campaign can unexpectedly become a part of a larger, humorous narrative within a sport's fanbase.
The details:
- Grill'd launched a 'free Oscar Piastri 81 burger when Oscar Piastri podiums' promotion after Piastri's victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, giving him a 34-point lead over Lando Norris.
- The promotion officially began after Piastri secured a third-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, which remains his most recent podium.
- Following a series of crashes and a faltering title quest, Grill'd quietly amended the promotion to 'when Oscar races.'
- Social media users quickly picked up on the change, accusing the burger chain of 'secretly sabotaging' Piastri with a 'cursed' burger.
- Grill'd's Response: In a statement, Grill'd acknowledged the 'tweets, TikToks, and memes,' apologizing for creating a burger 'so delicious it could change the course of F1 history.' They stated, 'We didn’t break F1, we just broke the internet.'
- Embracing the 'Curse': The chain leaned into the conspiracy, announcing a limited-edition 'Sorry Not Sorry' merch range (tees, caps, totes) and a Spotify playlist featuring songs like Justin Bieber's 'Sorry.'
What's next:
- Grill'd affirmed their continued support for Piastri, stating, 'We’ll never bet against a guy like Oscar Piastri... we’ll always be in his corner.' They added, 'We’re not superstitious, just super delicious.'
- With three races left in the season and 83 points still available, Piastri currently trails Lando Norris by 24 points in the F1 2025 World title race.
- The 'Sorry Not Sorry' merch and playlist are a fun way for Grill'd to engage with the F1 community and their customers, turning a viral 'curse' into a marketing opportunity.