Alex Dunne stuns F1 paddock with top-four debut replacing Lando Norris in Austrian GP practice
Alex Dunne shocked the F1 paddock after the McLaren development driver put his MCL39 in the top-four during FP1 at the Austrian GP. The Irishman had stepped into Lando Norris’s car for the practice session.
Alex Dunne is the shining light in the McLaren junior setup. The teenager is currently competing in F2 with Rodin Motorsport. After having done well in the support series so far this year, Dunne was given a chance to have a go in an F1 car by McLaren this weekend in Austria.
The F2 championship leader then did something nobody expected. During a quick lap towards the end of the session, Dunne went fourth quickest. He went within half a tenth of Oscar Piastri, which was a clear indication of his impressive pace.
Dunne had been put on soft tires, and sent out with low fuel for the run. But this does not make his efforts any less impressive. During sessions such as these, rookies are often given at least one chance to do a quick lap. But hardly ever do they compare with established F1 drivers.
Dunne was signed to the McLaren driver development program in 2024, when he was still racing in F3. In his debut F2 season, he has already won two feature races and sits atop the championship standings.
The 19-year-old was already highly rated within the McLaren setup. With this FP1 debut performance, his stocks have only risen further.
Alex Dunne brands Austrian GP FP1 outing as “pretty special”
Alex Dunne was elated after his F1 weekend debut with McLaren. The teenage sensation claimed that receiving the opportunity to showcase his talent at the biggest stage was “pretty special.”
Speaking right after the FP1 session ended in Austria, Dunne shared his immediate reaction to his brilliant performance.
“Super, super happy. I think it’s safe to say it went pretty well,” said Dunne. [via McLaren on Instagram]
“You know, I think we knew going through the session that the goal wasn’t necessarily for performance. It was more to help out with the car, help Lando and kind of just help the team improve as much as they can for FP2, FP3 and then onwards into the weekend.
“So to have the pace that I had and, you know, show what I’m capable of on the F1 stage is something pretty special.” he added.
In a wholesome moment, Dunne also declared over the team radio that it was the best day of his life, after the FP1 session ended on Friday.
F1 teams must field four rookies in FP1 sessions from 2025 onwards (2 per car). Dunne has become the first rookie that McLaren have fielded this year. They have also announced that IndyCar star Pato O’Ward will be stepping in for FP1 during the 2025 Mexico City GP. The 26-year-old will be driving in front of his home crowd for the second consecutive year.
