McLaren has revealed that Irish driver Alex Dunne will step in for Lando Norris during the initial free practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Dunne, despite having no prior F1 race weekend experience, is set to showcase his skills in Friday`s first session held at the Red Bull Ring circuit.
Remarkably, the young driver is currently leading the Formula 2 championship in his debut season and has been integrated into McLaren`s Driver Development Programme since the previous year.
Dunne expressed his excitement, stating, “It`s an incredible chance to drive in FP1 here in Austria.” He is notably the first driver from Ireland to participate in an F1 weekend since Ralph Firman did so in 2003.
He added, “I`m eager to get laps in the MCL39 and contribute to the team`s efforts in finding the optimal setup for the upcoming race weekend.”
Detailing his preparation, Dunne mentioned, “My preparation for these sessions has been thorough, including participation in Testing of Previous Cars with the MCL60 and extensive simulator work, which has been hugely beneficial for my learning.”
According to Formula 1 regulations, each team must give a rookie driver at least two practice session runs in their cars throughout the season. McLaren is fulfilling this requirement by offering Dunne his initial opportunity in their current car.
The layout of the Red Bull Ring is comparatively straightforward, meaning the regular drivers typically don`t require all three practice sessions to adapt fully to the car before qualifying begins.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella commented, “Providing Alex with this opportunity to run in Free Practice 1 is fantastic, allowing him crucial track time in a Formula 1 car which is vital for his development.”
Stella added that the team is happy to collaborate more closely with Dunne and benefit from his input during the weekend, noting, “His useful feedback will be instrumental in refining the car`s setup.”
He concluded by highlighting the value of such sessions: “Rookie sessions are excellent for identifying future talent and provide a unique chance for young drivers to experience a current car. We are eager to see him out on track.”
Meet Alex Dunne
Born in Offaly on November 11, 2005, Dunne rapidly progressed through the karting categories. At the age of 15, the minimum requirement for that tier, he seized the chance to compete in Formula 4.
His single-seater debut in F4 saw him claim pole position and a podium finish. He then went on to dominate the 2022 British F4 season, attracting significant attention.
In 2022, he also secured the runner-up spot in Italian F4, followed by second place in the GB3 Championship in 2023. Despite facing challenges in consistently performing in F3, McLaren signed him in May 2024, leading to his move to F2 with Rodin Motorsport for the current season.
Contrary to initial expectations, he has emerged as a title contender and currently leads the F2 standings before the Austrian races, thanks to notable Feature Race victories in Bahrain and Imola, alongside two additional podium finishes.
However, during the Monaco Feature Race, he was judged responsible for a first-corner collision involving Victor Martins, resulting in a multi-car pile-up. Following intense social media criticism, Dunne chose to remove social media applications from his phone.
Reflecting on the aftermath, he commented, “I received a significant amount of feedback after Monaco. Usually, I don`t get bothered by reading comments.”
He continued, “But I believe it was about an hour after the race that I deleted social media from my phone. The messages were incredibly harsh, the worst I`ve ever received. Much of what was said was genuinely hurtful and upsetting.”
McLaren Team Principal Stella discussed the situation with Dunne, who, despite being emotional, demonstrated remarkable resilience. He bounced back from a grid penalty in Spain`s F2 Sprint Race, climbing from 19th to second, and finished fifth in the Feature Race, successfully maintaining his championship lead.
Stella praised Dunne, stating, “Alex is performing exceptionally well. He`s a very quick and talented driver. The incident in Monaco, while challenging, provided a significant learning opportunity.”
He drew parallels to top drivers, saying, “Many world champions have faced similar crucial situations that were key to refining their racing approach.”
Stella emphasized McLaren`s support: “We had productive conversations with Alex, reaffirming our full backing for his talent and his championship campaign. We consistently see a very mature individual.”
He highlighted Dunne`s reaction: “His performance [in Spain] was a direct response to the Monaco incident and the pressure from social media. That aspect makes me extremely proud of him.”
Stella also addressed the social media aspect: “I believe we must acknowledge the challenges of living in a world where people attack others without justification or sometimes competence. We fully support Alex, both on and off the track, regarding this.”
He concluded, “While I felt for him, I was also immensely proud of how he reacted – being genuine and natural. For me, it also serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility.”
