Comedian Dave Hughes has unloaded on McLaren CEO Zak Brown with the precision of a man who’s had multiple coffees and finally snapped at the office printer. And his target? What he sees as McLaren’s very colourful, very one-sided treatment of Australia’s own Oscar Piastri during the rollercoaster 2025 Formula One season.

All of this comes after Lando Norris sealed his maiden F1 world title in Abu Dhabi – a third-place finish that delivered him the championship by just two points over Max Verstappen and, more awkwardly, 13 points over his teammate Piastri.

Cue celebrations, confetti and one very chipper Zak Brown who wasted no time leaping on the team radio to congratulate everyone… while accidentally trampling over Piastri’s moment like a dad who’s just discovered the ‘reply all’ button.

After Piastri crossed the line, engineer Tom Stallard calmly began: “Good job Oscar. Obviously that means Lando is world champion.”

Enter Brown, stage left, enthusiasm set to maximum: “Oscar, what a season. What a season. You’re a star. Seven wins. We love ya. We’ll do it again next year… What a year.”

Then Stallard tried – bravely – to add more praise, only to be drowned out by Brown again, booming in like an overeager karaoke performer: “Oscar, very proud of you. Awesome. What a team player… We go again next year. See you on the podium.”

Translation for many Australian fans: Did Zak just pat Oscar on the head?

And comedian Dave Hughes was not having it.

In a spicy Instagram spray, Hughes mocked Brown’s claim that Aussie senator Matt Canavan’s criticism of McLaren was “uneducated”.

“Ooh Zak Brown you need to need the shut the f*** up,” Hughes began, warming up like a drag bike on a Saturday night.

“‘Australians are uneducated if they think we favoured Norris over Piastri’. Are we mate? Here’s one example…”

What followed was Hughes’ greatest hits remix of the season’s most lopsided moments – Italy’s infamous slow pit stop swap (“Is it? No one in the world thought that was f***ing fair mate”), the three extra points it handed Norris, and the small matter that Norris won the title by, well, two.

“I’ll tell you Zak. Two f***ing points, mate.”

And he wasn’t done.

“Shut the f*** up, Zak. Enjoy your f***ing victory mate, but shut the f*** up.”

This, of course, wasn’t the first eyebrow-raising moment for Brown. Earlier in the year, an awkward post-race hug in Qatar – after strategy calls denied Piastri a crucial win – had fans squinting so hard they nearly saw into another dimension.

Hughes also posted a tidy seven-point list of grievances titled “McLaren team orders 2025”, starring hits like:

  • Australia: “Piastri (P2) told not to attack Norris (P1)”
  • Britain: Oscar asks for a fair swap; McLaren says no and Norris wins
  • Budapest: “Oscar told to pit. handing Norris the win.”
  • Italy: The infamous position return
  • Qatar: “Oscar robbed of win as pit stacking would have been detrimental to Lando.”

It’s the kind of list that would make even Santa reconsider who’s getting presents.

Brown may need to brace himself for a less-than-warm welcome when the 2026 season opens in Melbourne, where Australian F1 fans have long memories, excellent lung capacity and a national instinct for calling BS when they see it.

As for Piastri, ever the adult in the room, he took the heartbreak with grace. No ranting, no fireworks – just a quiet “congratulations” on Norris’ post and his own reflective message: “Lots achieved. Lots learnt. Coming back stronger next year.”

Australia, meanwhile, is already pre-ordering popcorn for Round 1.

Images: Instagram