The practice marks a significant milestone in Dunne’s rapidly rising career and making him the first Irish driver to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend since 2003.

Alex Dunne, currently leading the Formula 2 championship in his rookie season with Rodin Motorsport, will get his first taste of F1 action during Friday’s FP1 at the Red Bull Ring. The move comes as part of Formula 1’s regulations requiring teams to run a rookie driver in at least two practice sessions per car each season.

McLaren is using this opportunity to further integrate Dunne, who joined their Driver Development Programme in 2024, into the top-tier motorsport environment.

Dunne expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria. I’m really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the set-up for the race weekend ahead.”

“I’ve been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience,” Dunne added.

A rapid ascent and resilience

Dunne’s rise through the junior ranks has been swift. After dominating British F4 in 2022 and finishing as runner-up in both Italian F4 and the GB3 Championship, he made his F3 debut before stepping up to F2 this season.

Despite being a rookie, he has already claimed two feature race wins and multiple podiums, and currently sits atop the F2 standings. Dunne’s journey hasn’t been without adversity—he faced criticism after a Monaco incident earlier this year but responded with strong performances and maturity, earning praise from McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

“Alex is doing very well, he’s a very fast driver, very talented, and the situation he had in Monaco was one of those situations where you can learn a lot,” Stella said. 

“We always see a very mature person. The way he raced was an immediate response to the situation he had in Monaco and the pressure that came from these social media comments. That’s something that makes me very proud of him,” Stella added.

McLaren’s development strategy

McLaren’s decision to run Dunne in FP1 highlights their commitment to nurturing young talent through their Driver Development Programme. The relatively straightforward layout of the Red Bull Ring makes it an ideal venue for rookie sessions, as full-time drivers do not require all three practice sessions to prepare for qualifying.

Dunne will provide valuable feedback for the team’s race setup and gain invaluable experience at the highest level of motorsport. 

With this opportunity, Alex Dunne not only continues his personal development but also puts Irish motorsport back on the Formula 1 map for the first time in over two decades.