Alex Dunne joined F2 in 2025 after a disappointing season in F3, where he only stood on the podium on three occasions. However, his debut season couldn’t be going any better as the Irishman leads the championship after the opening three races.
The McLaren junior has won two feature races in Bahrain and Imola and has stood on the podium on four occasions. And Dunne’s F1 dream will begin at the Austrian GP, where he will make his first appearance for McLaren in FP1.
Alex Dunne to make F1 debut for McLaren
F1 teams must field a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions per car, totalling four FP1 sessions per team throughout the season. McLaren has yet to do so so far this season, but that will change in Austria. Alex Dunne will make his F1 debut, replacing Lando Norris in the first practice session.
The 19-year-old has driven an F1 car before, conducting a test at Zandvoort in May, driving the MCL60. However, this is the first time Dunne will drive the MCL39 in a competitive session.
🚀| Rookies into FP1 in Austria!
Some F2 drivers will be getting more on-track action than others this week!#F1 #AusatrianGP https://t.co/lbALWMjwTg
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) June 23, 2025
The issue for Dunne in the McLaren junior program is that there isn’t likely to be an F1 seat opening in the near future. McLaren is happy with their current driver lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The pair brought home the constructors’ championship last season and are on course to do so again this term.
Oscar Piastri has a contract with the Papaya team until the end of 2028, with Lando Norris’ expiring a year earlier. So, a place in the F1 team for Dunne is looking unlikely. However, there are other McLaren championships for him to race in. McLaren competes in IndyCar and is joining the World Endurance Championship Hypercar class. Those pose as more realistic options for Dunne, although anything can happen in the F1 driver market.
