Seldom do you see a rookie doing a mandatory FP1 session near the top ten on the timesheets, let alone P4 which is what Irish 18-year-old Alex Dunne did on the opening day of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at Red Bull Ring.
On duty in Lando Norris' McLaren, their young driver and Formula 2 championship leader, Alex Dunne, ticked all the boxes and more, ending the first free practice session on Friday just a tenth shy of teammate and world championship leader Oscar Piastri, placing P3 by less than a tenth of a second.
It was an impressive performance, not only suggesting the strength of the McLaren race car but also highlighting a driver who appeared clearly plug-and-play during his outing. Dunne completed 29 laps in the MCL39.
McLaren F1 team boss Andrea Stella was impressed but not surprised: "First of all, before we look at the time, I think we have to acknowledge that he has gone through quite an extensive plan of testing, with some new parts, with some rake work, some adjustments on the steering wheel that we don't see on television but definitely keeps the drivers very busy.
"In all this, Alex has been quite diligent and impressive. And then he also had the chance to show some speed and, no surprise, he is a fast driver. I think we need to be a bit careful looking at the lap times, because his came later on in the stint when the fuel was down.
"But I think encouraging and impressive in terms of Alex himself, and also I think a good session for McLaren," concluded Stella, whose team tops the 2025 F1 Constructors’ Championship standings by 175 points heading into the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
Dunne's Formula 2 season to date in a nutshell
Dunne’s rookie campaign in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship has marked him out as one of the standout newcomers of the season, delivering multiple victories, a pole position in Monaco, and consistent front-running form with Rodin Motorsport.
The Irish driver, part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, made an early statement by dominating the Feature Race in Bahrain. Starting fourth on the grid, Dunne surged to the front and opened a gap of over eight seconds at the chequered flag to secure his first win in the category.
A second Feature Race win came at Imola, where Dunne again climbed through the field from fifth on the grid to take victory and assume the lead in the drivers’ standings. His early-season form confirmed his credentials as a genuine title contender.
Dunne's momentum continued in Monaco, where he clinched his maiden pole position by just 0.003 seconds over ART’s Victor Martins. However, his weekend unravelled on the opening lap of the Feature Race. Attempting to defend his lead into Sainte-Dévote, Dunne collided with Martins, triggering a massive 11-car pileup that forced a red flag and drew the ire of rivals and fans alike.
After the Monaco disappointment, Dunne bounced back in Barcelona
The stewards handed Dunne a 10-place grid penalty for the next round in Spain. The incident also prompted online abuse directed at the 18-year-old, which his Rodin team later confirmed had been addressed internally with support for the young driver.
Despite the setback, Dunne responded with resilience in Barcelona. Starting 19th in the Sprint Race due to the penalty, he charged through the field to finish second, underlining both his pace and racecraft.
He continued to score consistently across the season, frequently running at the sharp end and regaining the championship lead at several stages. While he ultimately missed out on the title, Dunne’s performances firmly established him as one of the top rookies on the grid.
Alongside his Formula 2 campaign, Dunne has remained actively involved in McLaren’s development structure and currently serves as the Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team for Season 11.
Dunne earmarked for Formula 1 from the start of his junior career
Ahead of this year, McLaren confirmed Irish racer Alex Dunne as the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s Reserve and Development Driver for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The 18-year-old joined the McLaren Driver Development programme in May 2024 and now steps into a formal role supporting the team during Formula E Season 11.
Born in Offaly, Ireland, Dunne began karting at the age of eight and quickly rose through the junior ranks. He claimed his first major international success with victory in the 2019 WSK Champions Cup (OKJ category), cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young talents.
Dunne made his single-seater debut in the 2021 Spanish Formula 4 Championship with Pinnacle Motorsport. He immediately impressed by taking pole position on debut and finishing third in his first race.
Winning came easy for Dunne in junior series
Over the next two years, he enjoyed standout success in the UAE, British, and Italian F4 series, claiming 16 wins in total. In 2022, he was crowned British F4 Champion and finished runner-up in the Italian F4 standings.
In 2023, Dunne graduated to GB3 with Hitech Grand Prix, where he secured five victories and eight podiums to finish second in the championship. He also competed in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix, qualifying sixth on his street circuit debut before taking second place in the Qualifying Race for Hitech Pulse-Eight.
Dunne stepped up to FIA Formula 3 in 2024 with MP Motorsport as part of his ongoing development with McLaren. He earned podium finishes in Spain and Italy and scored points in seven other races, ending the season 14th in the final standings.
McLaren officially confirmed Dunne’s Formula E role in January 2025. As Reserve and Development Driver, he will support simulator and trackside operations throughout Season 11 while continuing to work under the McLaren Driver Development structure.
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