McLaren picks 19-year-old Irish star Alex Dunne for FP1 outing at Red Bull Ring

Alex Dunne will make Irish motorsport history this Friday as he becomes the first Irish driver in over two decades to take part in a Formula 1 weekend. The 19-year-old will step into Lando Norris’s McLaren for the first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his rapid ascent through the motorsport ranks.

Currently leading the Formula 2 championship in his debut season, Dunne will pilot the MCL39 around the Red Bull Ring, a track where he’ll also compete in F2 later that weekend. It’s a rare and coveted opportunity for the County Offaly native, who joined McLaren’s development programme earlier this year.

“This is an amazing opportunity,” Dunne said ahead of his F1 debut. “I’m really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the race weekend setup. I’ve been preparing through simulator work and testing older cars like the MCL60, which has been invaluable.”

Dunne’s preparations also included on-track sessions at Zandvoort in May and a further test at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. These were designed to familiarise him with the demands of F1 machinery ahead of his first official outing.

McLaren, who are required under F1 regulations to run a rookie driver in at least two practice sessions per season, have shown faith in Dunne’s potential. He now follows in the footsteps of Pato O’Ward, another McLaren junior who is set to run FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix later this year.

Dunne’s performance in Formula 2 this year has been nothing short of outstanding. Driving for Rodin Motorsport, he claimed his maiden victory in Bahrain, followed by another at Imola in May. Despite a controversial collision at the start of the Monaco feature race, which saw him penalised after securing pole position, Dunne bounced back impressively.

In Barcelona, he stormed through the field from 19th on the grid to claim second place, showing both racecraft and composure. A fifth-place finish in the subsequent feature race was enough to regain the championship lead, reinforcing his status as one of the brightest young talents in motorsport.

Dunne’s appearance on Friday will make him the first Irish driver to participate in an F1 weekend since Ralph Firman drove for Jordan in 2003. While Firman was born in England, he raced under an Irish licence. The last Irish-born F1 competitor was Eddie Irvine, who raced under a UK licence and secured four victories for Ferrari between 1993 and 2002.

McLaren’s choice to field Dunne for FP1 reflects their long-term vision and commitment to nurturing young talent. The team sits among the front-runners this season, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri regularly challenging for podiums.

Dunne, a former British F4 champion and GB3 runner-up, has shown an uncanny ability to adapt to every step up in competition. This latest opportunity could be the gateway to a full-time F1 seat in the future if his upward trajectory continues.

The opening practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix will begin at 12:30 BST on Friday. All eyes will be on Dunne as he becomes only the second Irishman born on the island to drive a Formula 1 car at a race weekend – and perhaps the most promising of them all.