Irish driver Alex Dunne to make Formula 1 debut at Austrian Grand Prix

Offaly driver Alex Dunne is set to take to the track in F1 at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. 

The McLaren Formula 1 Team today announced that Alex, who is on the McLaren Driver Development Programme, will take part in Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, in place of Lando Norris. Practice 1 takes place on Friday and is shown live on Sky Sports F1

It is going to be a busy weekend, and a particularly busy Friday, for the rapidly rising star as he will also be competing in the F2 Championship at the Red Bull Ring. F2 practice and qualifying also take place on Friday with the Sprint Race on Saturday and the Feature Race on Sunday. Alex currently leads the F2 World Championship after six rounds with seven more to go.

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The 19-year-old began karting at eight years old, securing his first European karting title in the 2019 WSK Champions Cup OKJ Category. He made his single-seater debut in the 2021 Spanish F4 Championship, securing Pole position and a podium on debut. In his 2022 season, he picked up a combined 16 race wins whilst competing in the British, UAE, and Italian Formula 4 Championships, earning him the British 4 Championship, before going on to earn the vice-champion title in the GB3 Championship the following year.

Alex was announced as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme in May 2024 whilst competing in FIA Formula 3. He now races for Rodin Motorsport in FIA Formula 2 and serves as Reserve and Development Driver for NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.

Alex will get behind the wheel of the MCL39 as part of his development within the McLaren Racing pipeline, which has an overarching aim to help drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar, and Formula 1, IndyCar, and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship entry.

Earlier in the year, McLaren announced that Pato O’Ward will take part in FP1 at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix. The team will announce who will drive in the remaining two Free Practice sessions in due course, which will complete the team’s four young driver outings as mandated in the 2025 Sporting Regulations.