McLaren handed the F2 championship leader, Alex Dunne, a Maiden F1 FP1 session in 2025 Austrian Grand Prix.
Dunne takes over the chair of Lando Norris for the Opening-F1 practice session between F2 practice and qualifying sessions on Friday 27 June, which marks its first taste of F1 FP1 that is active after having various test work in the past year with recent McLaren F1 cars.
The 19-year-old Irish driver described his last chance as “a great opportunity” after he was previously announced for McLaren’s Formula E-smokie test in mid-July in Berlin, Germany.
“I am really looking forward to getting laps behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the setup for the race weekend for itself.
“I have prepared well for the sessions, participating in testing earlier car tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience.”
Dunne also recognized the confidence of McLaren’s CEO – Zak Brown, Team Principal – Andrea Stella and Chief of Business Affairs – Alessandro Alunni Bravi to give him an F1 outing.
“Thank you by Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their confidence in me. It is a great step in my development with the McLaren Driver Development Program, and I am very enthusiastic to become a member of the Team Trackside.”
Stella added that McLaren is happy to work closer with Dunne in Austria next to his F2 tasks for Rodin.
“It is great to give Alex the opportunity to run in Free Practice 1, and for him to get a valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development.
“The team is happy to work better with him, and for his support at the weekend, where he will give useful feedback to help with the arrangement of the car.
“The Rookie sessions are fantastic to see the talent of tomorrow and make that rare opportunity possible to get time in a current car, so we look at him out on track.”
In the meantime, Ferrari has announced that Dunne’s F2 rival, Dino Startovic, will ride instead of Charles Leclerc in FP1, which means that at least two rookies will participate in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring.
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