McLaren has confirmed that Irish driver Alex Dunne will participate in the first practice session (FP1) of the Austrian Grand Prix, stepping in for Lando Norris. This marks a significant opportunity for the 19-year-old, who will make his Formula 1 race weekend debut in Friday`s initial session at the Red Bull Ring.
Dunne currently leads the Formula 2 championship in his inaugural season and has been a valued member of McLaren`s Driver Development Programme since 2023.
Expressing his excitement, Dunne stated, “It`s an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria.” He holds the distinction of being the first Irish driver to partake in an F1 weekend since Ralph Firman in 2003.
He added that he eagerly anticipates driving the MCL39 and assisting the team with car setup for the upcoming race weekend. Dunne also mentioned his thorough preparation, including `Testing of Previous Cars` sessions in the MCL60 and extensive simulator work, which he described as a valuable learning experience.
This opportunity arises from Formula 1 regulations mandating that all teams provide at least two rookie practice sessions per car each season. McLaren is utilizing this requirement to fulfill their obligation while simultaneously giving Dunne his first taste of the current-spec car. The Red Bull Ring`s less complex layout, compared to other circuits, means regular drivers don`t always require all three practice sessions to familiarize themselves with the car before qualifying, making it an ideal venue for a rookie outing.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella commented, “It`s great to give Alex this FP1 opportunity, allowing him valuable time in a Formula 1 car as part of his development.” Stella expressed the team`s satisfaction in collaborating more closely with Dunne, noting his valuable feedback for car setup throughout the weekend.
He further highlighted the importance of rookie sessions for identifying future talent and providing a rare chance to drive current F1 machinery, concluding, “we look forward to seeing him on track.”
Alex Dunne leads the F2 Championship.
Who is Alex Dunne?
Born in Offaly on November 11, 2005, Dunne rapidly progressed through karting, entering Formula 4 at the minimum age of 15. He impressively secured pole position and a podium finish in his F4 single-seater debut, later dominating the 2022 British F4 season, which garnered significant attention.
That same year, Dunne was runner-up in Italian F4 and then finished second in the 2023 GB3 Championship. Despite some inconsistencies in F3, McLaren signed him in May 2024, leading to his F2 debut with Rodin Motorsport this season.
Unexpectedly, he now leads the F2 standings ahead of the Austrian races, having achieved two impressive Feature Race victories in Bahrain and Imola, alongside two additional podium finishes.
However, Dunne was held responsible for a multi-car pile-up involving Victor Martins at Turn 1 during Monaco`s Feature Race. This incident drew significant criticism on social media, which prompted him to delete social media applications from his phone.
Dunne revealed, “I received a lot of negative feedback after Monaco. Normally, I don`t let comments bother me.” He continued, “But about an hour after the race, I deleted social media from my phone because I`d never encountered such harsh messages. Much of what I received was truly awful and quite distressing, to be frank.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella spoke with an emotional Dunne, who subsequently demonstrated remarkable resilience. He bounced back from a grid penalty to finish second in the F2 Sprint in Spain and fifth in the Feature Race, thereby maintaining his championship lead.
Stella affirmed, “Alex is performing exceptionally well; he`s a very fast and talented driver. His experience in Monaco presented a significant learning opportunity.” He noted that many world champions have navigated similar challenging situations crucial for refining their racing approach.
Stella added, “We had productive discussions with Alex, reaffirming our full support for his talent and his championship pursuit. We consistently observe his maturity.” He expressed pride in Dunne`s immediate and strong response on track to the Monaco incident and the social media pressure.
Andrea Stella held “good conversations” with Dunne after his Monaco incident.
Stella emphasized the need to acknowledge that “we live in a challenging world where individuals can attack others without foundation or competence,” reassuring that McLaren fully supports Alex both on and off the track. He concluded by expressing empathy for Dunne`s situation but also immense pride in his genuine and natural reaction, seeing it as a broader call for collective responsibility.
