We test-drive Oscar Piastri's McLaren… burger at Grill'd

Yesterday at 03:00 PM

The first round of the 2025 Formula 1 Championship will kick off next week in Melbourne, but the Australian city is known for more than just that.

F1 hopeful Oscar Piastri is also from Melbourne, as is burger-chain Grill'd, so what better way to celebrate it all than with a collaboration between the two?

The Oscar Piastri x Grill'd limited-edition burger promises "all taste, no regrets" thanks to its mix of Wagyu beef patty, bacon, cheese and special chipotle mayo sauce.

And in keeping with the theme of the McLaren driver, its charcoal bun and shredded carrot invoke the same black and orange of Piastri's F1 car.

RELATED: Australia's Oscar Piastri wins his first Formula One Grand Prix

“I’m sharing my new favourite burger with you – a fresh Oscar x Grill’d creation packed with bold flavours,” Piastri says on the Grill'd website.

"It’s super high in protein, low in sugar and made with love," but we'll be the judge of that, mate.

Tung Nguyen, News Editor – 7.5

My usual go-to burger is a double bacon at Five Guys, and I hadn't sampled Grill'd in a number of years, but this was a pleasant surprise.

It's a rock-solid burger through and through, and while I was sceptical about the carrot, it didn't detract (or add) anything to the experience.

The sauce is a standout, though, adding the right amount of pep and flavour. Could be a touch spicier, though.

Oscar's fastest lap time around Albert Park is 1:16.57, but I reckon I downed that burger quicker.

Tom Fraser, Journalist – 7

The build quality was right up there and consistency across all 13 burgers was high. 

I didn’t love the aesthetics of the black bun, but props to Grill’d for somehow making the sesame seeds orange. 

Saba Elahi, Head of Publishing – 6

I was going to give it a solid 8/10 because of the tasty patty and sauce, but saw my teeth in the mirror after eating the charcoal bun, and learnt about the $18.90 price, so for that it’ll be a 6/10 for me.

Kat Fisk, Consumer Editor – 8

Not normally a big beef burger-eater, but the patty was great, agree sauce was delish, and I didn’t mind the carrot – it did make it a little messier, though.

I also liked the charcoal bun. I like when buns are a bit more festive than your average (also think Barbie/Grill’d pink collab, YOMG purple bun) and the slightly burnt taste gave it fun BBQ vibes.

Liked it more than Five Guys – don’t shoot me!

Deanne Dwight, Producer – 7.5

Quality patty, loved the attention to detail with the influx of 'McLaren' papaya/orange ingredients. As an Aussie driver, beetroot should have been included. Always needed.

Let’s just say it isn’t refined like George Russell or Lando Norris.

Maybe this review of the burger is a reflection of the season ahead. Close but no championship/winner here. 

Kez Casey, Production Editor – 7

My Grill’d expectation is usually pretty low, but it feels like they’ve lifted on this occasion.

Maybe it was the added fresh element of grated carrot, or maybe it was the not-too-soggy sauce saturation, but this burger aims a little higher than Grill’s usual fare.

It’s still not the best burger you can buy, and the price makes it a premium product, but it’s a solid 7/10.

Mathieu Riva, Head of Photography – 7.5

I actually like the carrot. Carrot actually contains quite a bit of sugar, so I do find the carrot gives it a slight sweetness as well as I like the charcoal bun.

The sauce was elite but also doing a lot of heavy lifting.

I'm saying it's a bit pricey for what it offers, but I do believe it's because it’s one of those ‘limited-time offer burgers’ due to the F1 race, obviously.

James Ward, Director of Content – 7

Tasty patty and combo of ingredients – great sauce – but not sure it needed that much carrot, and I feel the black bun ‘tasted’ burnt even though it wasn’t. We do eat with our eyes after all.

I did appreciate the orange seeds and commitment to McLaren detail, even if the carrot was a bit full on.

Was definitely filling, but for $19 it should be.

Not sure it would get me to the podium, though – and I’m glad I passed on the chips lest I not make it to the end of the race.

Tom Jordan, Senior Videographer – 6.5

Too much carrot, and my patty was burnt.

The sauce was a solid 10.

The limited feel of it was actually pretty boss.

I liked the cool colours.

Ethan Cardinal, Journalist – 8

I’m a papaya boy at heart, so I’ll always support Oscar and Lando no matter what!

But objectively speaking, the burger was carried by the sauce. I feel the same as Wardy when it comes to charcoal-flavoured anything. I love the aesthetic execution, but taste-wise, the black bun did throw me off. 

I’m a fan of reinventing traditional ingredients in food, but I wanted the carrot to add to the flavour instead of visual appeal, and for $19, I feel like it didn’t hit as hard as Piastri does on the track! 

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