Latest news with #MCL39
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Irish motor-racing star and F2 leader Alex Dunne to drive McLaren's Formula 1 car during Austrian Grand Prix weekend
The 19-year-old from Offaly currently tops the Formula 2 championship standings, having claimed two victories so far this season, backing up his maiden victory in Bahrain with a repeat at Imola. Dunne joined McLaren's driver development programme in May last year while competing in the FIA Formula 3 championship, and is racing in the second tier championship for Rodin Motorsport. He also holds the role of Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. He will take over Lando Norris's seat for Free Practice 1 (FP1), as teams are required to give rookie drivers at least two practice outings per car during the 2025 season, with Ferrari also announcing that their junior driver Dino Beganovic will replace Charles Leclerc for FP1 at the Red Bull Ring. 'It's an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria,' Dunne said after the news was confirmed on Monday. 'I'm really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the set-up for the race weekend ahead. 'I've been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. Thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their faith in me. 'It's a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I'm really excited to join the team trackside.' McLaren team principal Andrea Stella added: 'It's great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in FP1, and for him to get valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development. 'The team are pleased to be working with him more closely, and for his support across the weekend, where he will be providing useful feedback to help with the car's set-up. 'The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow and enabling that rare chance to get time in a current car, so we look forward to seeing him on track.'
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Irish motor-racing star and F2 leader Alex Dunne to drive McLaren's Formula 1 car during Austrian Grand Prix weekend
The 19-year-old from Offaly currently tops the Formula 2 championship standings, having claimed two victories so far this season, backing up his maiden victory in Bahrain with a repeat at Imola. Dunne joined McLaren's driver development programme in May last year while competing in the FIA Formula 3 championship, and is racing in the second tier championship for Rodin Motorsport. He also holds the role of Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. He will take over Lando Norris's seat for Free Practice 1 (FP1), as teams are required to give rookie drivers at least two practice outings per car during the 2025 season, with Ferrari also announcing that their junior driver Dino Beganovic will replace Charles Leclerc for FP1 at the Red Bull Ring. 'It's an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria,' Dunne said after the news was confirmed on Monday. 'I'm really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the set-up for the race weekend ahead. 'I've been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. Thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their faith in me. 'It's a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I'm really excited to join the team trackside.' McLaren team principal Andrea Stella added: 'It's great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in FP1, and for him to get valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development. 'The team are pleased to be working with him more closely, and for his support across the weekend, where he will be providing useful feedback to help with the car's set-up. 'The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow and enabling that rare chance to get time in a current car, so we look forward to seeing him on track.'
The 42
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- The 42
Offaly teenager Alex Dunne to get McLaren F1 shot at Austrian Grand Prix
OFFALY TEENAGER ALEX Dunne will get his first taste of Formula 1 action this week after he was called up by McLaren for the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg. Dunne, 19, is part of McLaren's Driver Development Programme and will drive their MCL39 in Free Practice 1 at the Red Bull Ring on Friday afternoon (12.30pm Irish). He will drive in place of Lando Norris, who currently sits second in the F1 Drivers Championship behind team-mate Oscar Piastri. Dunne currently leads the F2 Drivers Championship, which continues in Austria this weekend. Advertisement
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Irish motor-racing star and F2 leader Alex Dunne to drive McLaren's Formula 1 car at Austrian Grand Prix practice
The 19-year-old from Offaly currently tops the Formula 2 championship standings, having claimed two victories so far this season, backing up his maiden victory in Bahrain with a repeat at Imola. Dunne joined McLaren's driver development programme in May last year while competing in the FIA Formula 3 championship, and is racing in the second tier championship for Rodin Motorsport. He also holds the role of Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. He will take over Lando Norris's seat for Free Practice 1 (FP1), as teams are required to give rookie drivers at least two practice outings per car during the 2025 season, with Ferrari also announcing that their junior driver Dino Beganovic will replace Charles Leclerc for FP1 at the Red Bull Ring. 'It's an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria,' Dunne said after the news was confirmed on Monday. 'I'm really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the set-up for the race weekend ahead. 'I've been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. Thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their faith in me. 'It's a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I'm really excited to join the team trackside.' McLaren team principal Andrea Stella added: 'It's great to be able to give Alex the opportunity to run in FP1, and for him to get valuable time behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of his development. 'The team are pleased to be working with him more closely, and for his support across the weekend, where he will be providing useful feedback to help with the car's set-up. 'The rookie sessions are fantastic for seeing the talent of tomorrow and enabling that rare chance to get time in a current car, so we look forward to seeing him on track.'
RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Alex Dunne to make F1 practice session debut for McLaren in Austria on Friday
Alex Dunne will take another step in his burgeoning career this weekend when the Offaly man will get behind the wheel of the McLaren Formula One car for Friday's first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix. The 19-year-old has had numerous highs in the FIA Formula 2 feeder series this year. Driving for the Rodin team, the McLaren development driver has won two feature races in Bahrain and Imola, and currently leads the driver standings by three points ahead of the Netherlands' Richard Verschoor. He is also a reserve and development driver for McLaren's Formula E team. Dunne has already had the opportunity to test drive an older McLaren F1 car, doing so at Zandvoort last month but this Friday at the Red Bull Ring will mark his first opportunity to drive the MCL39 during a grand prix weekend. Under the rules for 2025, F1 teams are required to field young drivers in free practice twice during the year, increasing from one in previous seasons. In Friday's hour-long FP1 session, which will start at 12.30pm Irish time, Dunne will sit in for McLaren driver Lando Norris, who is second in the Formula One drivers standings behind team-mate Oscar Piastri after the duo collided in Canada in the last round. "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," Dunne said. "I've been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. Thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their faith in me. It's a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I'm really excited to join the team trackside." While Dunne will participate in FP1, he will also be looking to bolster his F2 title bid with Austria also hosting the seventh round of the second tier series' championship.
