Rising Star Alex Dunne Stuns with P4 Finish in Austrian GP Practice Debut
What a moment in motorsport—today's first practice session at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix gave us something truly special. Amid the usual dominance from the likes of George Russell and Max Verstappen, all eyes quickly turned to 19-year-old Alex Dunne, who delivered an incredible performance in his Formula 1 debut by finishing fourth fastest. Yes, fourth.
Dunne, stepping in for Lando Norris at McLaren, became the first Irish driver in over two decades to participate in an F1 weekend. And he didn’t just take part—he made a real statement. It wasn’t just hype. It wasn’t luck. It was sheer talent. Early in the session, he was one of the first drivers out on track, immediately getting up to speed in the McLaren MCL39. McLaren were running aerodynamic upgrades this weekend, and with aero rakes strapped to the car, Dunne was tasked with gathering valuable data—while also trying to make a name for himself. He did both.
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Let’s not forget the level of competition here. George Russell clocked the fastest lap with a 1:05.542, followed closely by Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. And just 0.224 seconds behind Russell? Alex Dunne. He was right there with the elite, running on soft tyres, taking advantage of the best track conditions late in the session. But even with that, to be within a hair’s breadth of Piastri—who is himself one of the most highly rated young talents—speaks volumes about Dunne's readiness.
To put it in perspective, he outpaced seasoned pros like Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, and Lewis Hamilton. And this was on his first ever F1 outing. That lap earned immediate praise from McLaren and caught the attention of the entire paddock. On the team radio, Dunne simply said, “Best day of my life,” and it’s easy to see why.
What makes this performance even more exciting is where Dunne is coming from. He’s currently leading the Formula 2 championship and has had a rapid ascent through the junior categories, marked by resilience and adaptability. He’s faced setbacks—Formula 3 didn’t quite go his way—but he bounced back, and now he’s knocking on the door of a full-time F1 seat.
Of course, there’s a big “what next?” hanging over this. McLaren already has two stars under contract in Norris and Piastri. But after today, the question isn’t whether Dunne belongs in Formula 1. It’s when, and where, he’ll get his shot.
Because what Alex Dunne did today wasn’t just a good run in practice—it was a message. A message that there’s a new name to watch in Formula 1. And if this is just the beginning, then the future looks very bright indeed for Irish motorsport.
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