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Alex Dunne Set for Return to F1 After Impressive Rookie Outing.

The Formula 1 paddock is buzzing with anticipation following confirmation that Irish racing sensation Alex Dunne will make a return to F1 action later this season. Dunne, who impressed fans and teams alike during his first Free Practice 1 (FP1) appearance at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, is poised to step back into McLaren’s Formula 1 car for at least one more outing—and possibly two.

As teams across the grid have rotated rookie drivers through practice sessions this year, Dunne stood out as one of the most promising prospects. At the Red Bull Ring, the 19-year-old took over Lando Norris’s seat for FP1 and delivered a stunning performance, clocking the fourth fastest lap of the session. Remarkably, he was just seven-tenths of a second off the pace of championship leader Oscar Piastri, showcasing a mix of confidence, composure, and raw speed that instantly caught the attention of the motorsport world.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was among those to heap praise on Dunne’s performance, commending the young driver’s ability to adapt quickly and deliver under pressure. That outing seems to have opened the door for further opportunities in F1 machinery.

Speaking at the Mondello Park Historic Festival in Ireland last weekend, Dunne was asked whether he would be back in the McLaren this season. His response confirmed fans’ hopes.

“It’s soon, but I can’t say when,” Dunne said. “There’s definitely one \[more session], maybe two. There’s definitely one with the opportunity of another one.”

Although McLaren is not expected to have a full-time seat available for 2026, Dunne’s focus remains on building his case for a place on the F1 grid—whether with McLaren in the future or with another team willing to take a chance on an emerging talent.

In the meantime, Dunne is locked in an intense title battle in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 championship. With four rounds and eight races remaining—at Monza, Baku, Lusail, and Abu Dhabi—Dunne sits fifth in the standings, trailing leader Leonardo Fornaroli by 30 points. That gap is slightly misleading, as Dunne has shown remarkable pace and consistency throughout the season, but has been hampered by a string of setbacks.

He was disqualified from a second-place finish in Austria due to excessive plank wear, and a 10-second penalty at Spa robbed him of a dramatic wet-weather win. Still, Dunne’s ability to bounce back from adversity has only strengthened his reputation as one of the most resilient and skilled drivers of his generation.