This weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix isn’t just another pit stop for McLaren—it marks a historic moment as 19-year-old Alex Dunne is set to take over Lando Norris’ MCL39 in Friday’s Free Practice 1 (FP1) session. Dunne’s debut in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring serves as a major milestone in his rapid rise up the motorsport ladder.
McLaren’s Rookie Rotation
Under 2025 sporting regulations, each team must run a rookie in two FP1 sessions per car. McLaren has already fielded Pato O’Ward in Mexico City, and now it’s Dunne’s turn to sit in the MCL39—becoming the first Irish driver to hit F1 trackside in 22 years.
Dunne’s Motorsport Journey
Born 11 November 2005 in Offaly, Ireland, Alex Dunne began karting at eight, winning the 2019 WSK Champions Cup in OK-Junior. He quickly climbed through the junior ranks:
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2022: Dominated Formula 4—took the British F4 title and finished second in Italian F4.
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2023: Runner-up in GB3 Championship.
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2025: Competing in F2 with Rodin Motorsport, Dunne currently leads the championship, converting two feature wins and holding a slender points advantage.
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Simultaneously, Dunne joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme (2024) and serves as reserve driver for their Formula E effort.
He’s already tested F1 machinery—notably the MCL60 at Zandvoort—and spent quality time on McLaren’s simulators, readying himself for the real thing.
Dunne on Breakthrough
The Offaly teen expressed gratitude and excitement:
“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 setup for the race weekend ahead… I’ve been preparing well… through simulator time and Testing of Previous Cars programmes… Thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their faith in me.”
McLaren & Stella on Importance
McLaren’s Team Principal Andrea Stella praised the rookie programme:
“It’s great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in Free Practice 1… he’ll provide valuable feedback to help with the car’s setup. The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow…”
These sessions not only comply with regulations but also serve as crucial development milestones for future F1 talent—Dunne included.
What This Means for Dunne
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Experience in a current F1 car: Data-gathering, understanding tyre behavior, setup, and track adaptation.
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Team integration: Working with race engineers and pit-crew, learning communication protocols.
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Credibility boost: A strong FP1 showing could open doors to more opportunities, possibly securing additional FP1 appearances.
If Dunne impresses, he may receive further FP1 outings—McLaren still has two rookie sessions remaining per car this season.
The Technical Side
Dunne will pilot the MCL39, McLaren’s 2024 chassis. While McLaren ushered in a major tech reset in 2023 with the MCL60, introducing upgrades during last year’s Austrian GP weekend turned their season around—showing how important the Red Bull Ring is for assessing performance under low-drag high-speed conditions.
Expect Dunne to work on baseline setup and tyre feedback, feeding insights that could shape both the weekend’s race preparations and longer-term engineering development.
When to Watch
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FP1 takes place on Friday at the following local and UK times:
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Local (CEST): 11:30
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BST: 10:30
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Coverage begins early on Sky Sports F1 in the UK
Final Thoughts
Alex Dunne’s Austrian GP FP1 run offers more than a snapshot of raw speed—it represents the fruition of years of junior formula success, McLaren’s emerging talent pathway in action, and a momentous return of Irish presence in F1.
If he nails this debut, expect growing momentum—not just for Dunne’s career, but for the broader future of talent cultivation within McLaren. Stay tuned: come Friday, Dunne might just turn heads—and perhaps pave his path toward a full-time seat in the sport’s pinnacle.
