In Australia, the Grill'd burger chain offered a promotion in which customers could receive free burgers for every time local Formula One driver Oscar Piastri finished on the podium. The promotion began ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in March, coinciding with Piastri's strong performance earlier in the season, including podium finishes and leading the championship. However, following the relaunch of this promotion five races ago, Piastri has not finished in the top three, and Grill'd began to receive backlash from fans claiming that their promotional effort had created an unsettling 'curse' on Piastri's chances. This was particularly potent given that Piastri had previously achieved notable success by winning seven races in just his third season. As Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, took the championship lead away from him, Grill'd took to their social media to apologize for any negative impact their promotion might have had and acknowledged the struggles Piastri faced. They stated that it was never their intent to alter the course of F1 history through a brand partnership. Meanwhile, Piastri's manager, Mark Webber, stressed the importance of motivation and character for Piastri to rebound from this challenging season. According to Webber, despite the tough stretch for Piastri, it's crucial to recognize his achievements this season and not to underestimate his potential as he continues to develop early in his career. Piastri's misfortunes of crashing and not making the podium have weighed on the team's morale, while Webber remains hopeful that Piastri can reclaim his previous form by focusing on the upcoming races in the season. Notably, this situation has drawn both sympathy and support from fans and critics alike, highlighting the ups and downs of a young driver's career in the fast-paced world of Formula One.