Alex Dunne has the potential to make it to Formula 1, which has become increasingly apparent after watching the young Irishman's exceptional performances during the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Even Irish bookmakers at topbetting.ie seem to agree that Dunne is set for success, dubbing him the winner with odds of 81/20, although the favourite seems to be Luke Browning right now. The next race will be held on the 27 June in Austria. Even with consistency, can Dunne make it to F1?
While Dunne certainly has the talent, speed, and hunger for Formula 1, one thing that he has consistently lacked is, well, consistency. Dunne's best hope to reach F1 is by winning F2 this year.
Off to a discouraging start, the Formula Two Championship began in Melbourne on the 14th of March with three fines to DAMS Lucas Oil, TRIDENT, and Rodin Motorsport, the latter being driven by none other than Dunne himself. Six drivers, including Dunne, were penalised in the feature and sprint races.
Despite this, the Bahrain event pushed Dunne to step up and in a shocking turn of events, the young driver came in first place in the feature race with an astounding time of 59:40:123, pushing him to second position in the standings after Round 2. This was Dunne's first Formula 2 triumph, but not the last.
A season of ups and downs
In Saudi Arabia, Dunne yet again showed his unpredictable nature with a poor performance, scoring 6 and 4 points in the sprint and feature races respectively. At a time when the momentum could have proved useful, Dunne folded under pressure. Overshadowed by Lindblad, who won the sprint and became the youngest Formula 2 winner, Dunne came third in the sprint race but 8th in the feature.
Imola was a resounding success for Dunne. Round 4 of the F2 saw him ascend from fourth in the championship standings to first again, after victoriously winning the feature race and the free practice. At 64 points, it became clear that Dunne could rise from the ashes just as quickly as he fell.
As if feeding into a pattern much like a yo-yo, Round 5 caused chaos. From the first lap, the feature race already turned into a disaster as Martins unsuccessfully overtook Dunne, causing a monumental collision that affected seven drivers in total.
Crawford managed to avoid the bedlam and take first place, shaking up the standings. Now, Browning takes the first spot with 70 points after an impressive sprint race where he came in third, whilst Dunne occupies the second spot with 67 points. In third is Fornaroli, who came in second place in the feature race.
The remaining races will be:
- Round Seven: Spielberg on the 27th to 29th of June
- Round Eight: Silverstone on the 4th to 6th of July
- Round Nine: Spa-Francorchamps on the 25th to 27th of July
- Round Ten: Budapest on the 1st to 3rd of August
- Round Eleven: Monza on the 5th to 7th of September
- Round Twelve: Baku on the 19th to 21st of September
- Round Thirteen: Lusail on the 28th to 30th of November
- Round Fourteen: Yas Island on the 5th to 7th of December
The current standings clearly demonstrate that Dunne has what it takes to win the Formula Two championship. However, the driver is constantly falling in and out of the top three in the Drivers' Championship standings, and the competitors are relentless.
With nine races to go, it is vital to maintain stability when racing. Criticizing his decision-making and patience, Dunne recently spoke out to say that he can, and should, avoid putting himself in these positions.
Will Dunne make it to Formula 1?
Winning the Formula 2 Championship doesn't guarantee Dunne a fast pass to Formula One, but it does immensely help with getting there. For one, a driver needs a minimum of 40 Super License Points to qualify for a Super License, which is needed for Formula 1.
Coincidentally, this is how many points the Formula Two Drivers' Championship winner is awarded. Alternatively, you can accumulate these points within the last three seasons in any championships.
An example that Dunne can follow is Charles Leclerc, who went straight into Formula 1 with Sauber after winning the Formula 2 Championship in 2017. However, it is more likely that you will become a reserve than actually compete. Dunne has also been part of the McLaren Driver Development Program since 2024.
Being a member of this high-status academy is helpful for the future; nine drivers from this program have qualified for Formula 1 so far, including Lando Norris in 2019. If Dunne wants to join the McLaren racing team, this is a pivotal step.
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