Alex Dunne: Irish teenager stars on McLaren debut at Austrian GP to intensify discuss of spot on 2026 F1 grid | F1 Information
Irish teenager Alex Dunne starred on his Method 1 observe debut on the Austrian Grand Prix for McLaren with a efficiency which will have put him in competition for a 2026 seat on the grid.
Dunne changed Lando Norris in first observe on Friday as McLaren selected to tick off one in every of their 4 obligatory periods the place a rookie should take part.
The 19-year-old made essentially the most of his alternative and took a vastly spectacular fourth place, lower than a tenth of a second behind championship chief Oscar Pisatri in the identical equipment.
Often, the rookie drivers are a great distance off the tempo and end the session close to the again, so Dunne’s efficiency was eye-catching.
“I need to say a large thanks, you made just a little boy’s dream come true. That is undoubtedly the most effective day of my life,” Dunne stated over the radio as he made his means again to the storage on the finish of the session.
“Thanks everybody for letting me do that and because of Lando as nicely for trusting me along with his automotive. It means lots.”
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McLaren reserve driver Dunne was buoyant after ending fourth throughout opening observe in Austria
Who’s Alex Dunne?
Born on November 11, 2005 in Offaly, Dunne rapidly rose by way of the karting ranks and jumped on the alternative to drive in Method 4 when he turned 15 – the minimal age you’ll be able to drive at that degree.
He took pole place and a podium on his single-seater debut in F4, then dominated the British F4 season in 2022 as curiosity elevated.
Dunne was runner-up to Kimi Antonelli in Italian F4 in the identical yr, then completed second within the GB3 Championship in 2023. Though he struggled to constantly shine in F3, McLaren signed him in Could 2024 and Dunne made the step as much as F2 with Rodin Motorsport this yr.
He was not anticipated to be a title challenger however finds himself main the standings forward of this weekend’s races in Austria after two spectacular characteristic race wins in Bahrain and Imola, plus two different podiums.
Nevertheless, he was deemed at fault for a Flip 1 incident in Monaco’s Characteristic Race in opposition to Victor Martins which triggered a pile-up. Dunne was closely criticised on social media, which led to him deleting apps on his telephone.
“I obtained lots of stuff after Monaco, usually I am not somebody who reads issues and will get aggravated by them,” he stated.
“However I feel an hour after the race, I deleted social media off my telephone as a result of I’ve by no means obtained such dangerous messages in my life. Numerous the stuff I obtained was actually dangerous and fairly upsetting, to be trustworthy.”
Dunne bounced again from a grid penalty for the Monaco incident by flying by way of the sector from nineteenth to second place within the F2 Dash in Spain and took fifth within the characteristic race to retain his championship lead going into spherical seven in Austria this weekend.
Dunne ‘very happy’ with F1 outing
McLaren ran Dunne on the laborious tyres for almost all of first observe in Austria earlier than becoming on a comparatively contemporary set of softs for the final a part of the session, the place Dunne popped as much as fourth.
“It was not a foul lap. It was not new comfortable tyres too, so there are lots of positives to take,” stated Dunne, who will return to motion within the F2 Dash on Saturday at 1.10pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1.
“After all, if I obtained within the automotive once more I’d get faster and faster. I put the lap collectively fairly nicely and put what I realized from the session to maximise what I wanted to be taught. The group helped me massively to organize for this, in order that made it lots simpler for me.
“Whatever the efficiency and tempo on the finish, I am simply extra happy it was a clear session. There have been no mishaps, I did not get in anybody’s means.
“All of the stuff we wanted to check in the beginning all went easily and to plan. From that aspect I used to be very completely satisfied.”
Norris impressed by Dunne
Norris sat on the pit wall watching his automotive being pushed in first observe however his lack of observe time had no impression, partly because of the smoothness with which Dunne performed his work.
The British driver ended up quickest by 0.157s from Piastri in Apply Two, and credited Dunne for the suggestions he had supplied.
“The automotive felt good from the off,” Norris stated. “Alex gave good suggestions this morning after FP1 and he was on the tempo straightaway, so it was good to see.”
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Lando Norris was in full reward of Irish rookie Dunne for his useful suggestions throughout P1
Staff principal Andrea Stella defined Dunne examined McLaren’s upgrades for Austria and likewise accomplished some rake work as deliberate.
“In all this, Alex has been fairly diligent and spectacular. After which he additionally had the prospect to indicate some velocity and, no shock, he’s a quick driver,” stated Stella.
“I feel we should be a bit cautious wanting on the lap occasions, as a result of his got here afterward within the stint when the gas was down.
“However I feel encouraging and spectacular by way of Alex himself, and likewise I feel session for McLaren.”
Chandhok: McLaren ought to make a cope with Cadillac
Each Norris and Piastri have contracts for 2026, so there is no such thing as a room at McLaren for Dunne in the meanwhile.
Nevertheless, he can take encourage from the trail of Ferrari academy product Oliver Bearman, who impressed in observe periods for Haas and standing in for Ferrari earlier than being given a seat with the previous.
Whereas nothing is definite in F1, because the a number of modifications to seats we have witnessed within the opening phases of this season confirmed, the obvious alternative for Dunne may very well be with the game’s incoming eleventh group, Cadillac, who be a part of the grid in 2026.
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Highlights from Friday’s observe periods on the Austrian Grand Prix
Sky Sports activities F1’s Karun Chandhok thinks McLaren ought to look to discover a means of loaning Dunne out.
“If I used to be McLaren now, I would be making an attempt to do a cope with Cadillac or somebody like that to farm him out,” Chandhok stated.
“Based mostly on all the things he is proven. He is the chief of the F2 championship. They’ve seen potential in testing, we’re seeing it publicly at the moment.
“You need to discover him a seat someplace to construct up some racing expertise. I would be making an attempt to get him a deal some place else for a time frame.
“Farm him out, have him on some type of a tether that they will pull him again in, in the way in which that Mercedes have completed with George Russell up to now.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Austrian GP schedule
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments all through the years on the Austrian Grand Prix
Saturday June 28
9am: F3 Dash
11.15pm: Austrian GP Apply Three (session begins at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Dash
2.15pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: AUSTRIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday June 29
7.25am: F3 Characteristic Race
8.55am: F2 Characteristic Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP response*
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion
Subsequent up for the 2025 Method 1 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.