Alex Dunne stepped into the cockpit of Lando Norris’ McLaren as an up-and-coming driver with out Formula 1 expertise. He left it with proof he can sustain with the easiest in F1.
The 19-year-old driver from Ireland took over Norris’ automotive for the primary practice Friday (June 27, 2025) forward of the Austrian Grand Prix and was quickly near matching the tempo of championship chief Oscar Piastri within the different McLaren.
“I want to say a massive thank you. A little boy’s dream came true,” Dunne instructed the McLaren group over the radio. “This is definitely the best day of my life, so thank you everyone for letting me do this. And thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car.”
Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland makes a pit cease throughout the first free practice on the Red Bull Ring racetrack, forward of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Dunne set the fourth-fastest time of anybody within the session, 0.224 of a second off George Russell’s quickest lap, and was particularly fast within the Austrian observe’s quickest corners.
Dunne was .159 off the tempo of defending champion Max Verstappen, .069 off Piastri, and .333 faster than seven-time champ Lewis Hamilton.
The 19-year-old Dunne has risen quick by the junior sequence and is the standings chief in Formula 2. He’s additionally carried out non-public testing in a 2023-specification McLaren and used the group’s simulator.
Dunne grew to become the primary Irish driver to participate in a Grand Prix weekend for 22 years, since Ralph Firman raced one season for Jordan in 2003. F1 groups are required to present younger drivers a chance in 4 Friday (June 27, 2025) practice periods per yr, however they normally want extra time to adapt than Dunne did.
Another F2 driver was behind the wheel Friday (June 27, 2025) as Ferrari handed Charles Leclerc’s automotive to Sweden’s Dino Beganovic, who positioned 18th.
