Alex Dunne to replace Lando Norris in Free Practice 1 at the Austrian GP

This is a nice reward after a successful start to the season: Alex Dunne, leader of Formula 2, will make its big debut in Formula 1 during Free Practice 1 of the Austrian Grand Prix. The Irishman is taking advantage of his role as a development driver to McLaren to take the track with the best car off the grid for an hour. He will be driving the MCL39 usually used by Lando Norris, double winner this season in Australia and Monaco.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria. I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the MCL39 and helping the team prepare for the race weekend.” says the 19-year-old pilot happily.I prepared well for this session, participating in tests on previous cars, notably the MCL60, and spending time on the simulator, which was extremely educational. Thank you to the team for their trust. This is an important step in my journey within the McLaren development program, and I am very excited to join the team on the ground."

For Alex Dunne, making his official debut is the next logical step after his highly successful start to the year in F2. Despite a few collisions and some sloppy driving, Rodin's protégé shows impressive speed, leading the championship by three points over the experienced Richard Verschoor. Dunne, who joined McLaren in 2024, has also been able to get his first taste of Formula 1 racing during several TPCs (tests on cars at least two years old, Editor's note) in recent months.

Dunne makes official F1 debut

The County Offaly native was on track last week in Austin for a three-day test of the MCL60, the 2023 single-seater, which he shared with Lando Norris and... Brad Pitt. The American actor was given a first taste of driving an F1 car after playing Sonny Hayes, pilot and main protagonist of the film " F1″, in theaters from Wednesday. For Alex Dunne, this Formula 1 test comes a few days after the official announcement of his participation in the rookie test of Formula E in Berlin, scheduled for mid-July.

If his future in Formula 1 seems blocked for the Papayes, who are counting on Norris at least until the end of 2026 and on Piastres until at least 2028, the Irishman could find an outlet in the electric single-seater category. McLaren will withdraw at the end of the season to concentrate on its project in Endurance, but for Alex Dunne, the opportunity to join the Formula E championship grid would certainly be enticing. Until, perhaps, one day, his destiny leads him to F1…

His participation in Free Practice 1 in Styria is in any case the first of the four sessions where McLaren must enter a rookie (a driver with two or fewer GPs in F1). The second is already fixed: Pato O'Ward, the Mexican driver of Arrow McLaren in IndyCar, will participate in Free Practice 1 of the Mexican Grand Prix in October. There are two sessions left to be allocated and Alex Dunne is the favorite to also participate later in the season.

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