Dunne goes from 19th to second to retake F2 lead
Ireland's Alex Dunne has retaken the lead of the Formula 2 standings after going from 19th to second in the sprint race in Barcelona.
The 19-year-old McLaren development driver bounced back from a disappointing weekend in Monaco, where he was deemed at fault for a first corner collision and handed a 10-place grid penalty for the next race in Spain.
Advertisement
Dunne was given a further three-place grid penalty after a pit lane collision with Victor Martins in practice, which meant he started the sprint race from 19th.
A strong first lap saw Irishman move up to 14th and Dunne was running outside the points until a late safety car after Prema team-mates Sebastian Montoya and Gabriele Mini came together on lap 17.
Dutch driver Richard Verschoor and Dunne pitted for soft tyres, and they cut their way through the pack on the restart.
They pair capitalised on their tyre advantage, and Dunne finished the race just 0.3 seconds behind winner Verschoor.
Rodin Motorsport driver Dunne now holds a four-point advantage over English driver Luke Browning, who was in contention for the win before the late safety car before he dropped away on older tyres, and Verschoor is now third in the standings.
Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad, who was ninth in the sprint, will start from pole position for the feature race at 8:40 BST on Sunday, while Dunne will line up in eighth.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Report – France Starlet To Stay At Monaco Amid Inter Milan Passive Approach
Sought-after forward Maghnes Akliouche will reportedly stay at Monaco as Inter Milan failed to concretize their interest. According to L'Equipe via FCInterNews, the 23-year-old is on the verge of spending another season at Stade Louis II. Maghnes Akliouche was on the scoresheet as Monaco thrashed Le Havre 3-1 in their opening 2025/26 Ligue 1 outing. However, it will not be his last appearance for Les Monégasques. Indeed, the versatile forward remains firmly in Adi Hutter's plans for this season. Monaco to Keep Maghnes Akliouche Despite Inter Milan Interest France's midfielder #21 Maghnes Akliouche celebrates his team's sixth goal during the U23 friendly football match between France and Dominican Republic at Mayol Stadium in Toulon, south-eastern France, on July 11, 2024, in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. France won over Dominican Republic. (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP) (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images) Inter informed Monaco of their interest in Akliouche after a pre-season friendly earlier in August. Yet, the French club's prohibitive €70 million asking price has deterred the Nerazzurri from entering further discussions. Furthermore, Monaco's demands have put off even Premier League giants Manchester City. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain had considered Akliouche as a potential replacement for Kang-in Lee. However, after failing to offload the South Korean winger, they've dropped their interest in the Frenchman. On the other hand, Inter will skip signing a new forward in the final days of the transfer window.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stat attack: Barcelona field the youngest starting lineup in La Liga on Matchday 1
Barcelona kicked off the 2025/26 La Liga campaign in style, defeating Mallorca 3-0 to claim a perfect start under Hansi Flick. Beyond the scoreline, the game also carried special significance, as Barça set a unique record on the opening day of the season. The Blaugrana lined up with an average age of just 23 years and 272 days, which was the youngest starting XI in La Liga's first round of fixtures. This put them ahead of rivals Real Madrid (25 years and 213 days), Sevilla (25 years and 345 days), Villarreal (26 years and 88 days), and Atletico Madrid (26 years and 90 days). A look at the players Much of the youthful feel came from a reshaped starting eleven. In goal, Joan Garcia (24) was handed the gloves in the absence of Wojciech Szczesny (35), who was unable to register in time, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (33), who remains sidelined with injury. In defence, Ronald Araujo (26) partnered teenage sensation Pau Cubarsi (18), while Eric Garcia (24) took over at right-back from Jules Kounde (26). In midfield, Fermin Lopez (22) was given a surprising role as a false '9', with Dani Olmo (27) introduced later in the match. Up front, Ferran Torres (25) filled the gap left by veteran Robert Lewandowski (36), who started on the bench. He was supported by Lamine Yamal (18) and Raphinga (28), who was the oldest player in the Barcelona lineup. La Masia continues to lead the way The match was another reminder of how Barcelona have reinvented themselves in recent seasons by trusting their academy. Youngsters like Alejandro Balde (21), Gavi (21), Cubarsi (18), and Yamal (18) have become central to the project, giving the squad a fresh identity full of energy and ambition. The balance, however, remains crucial. While the youth provide dynamism, experience is never too far away. Leaders such as Lewandowski (36), Szczesny (35), and ter Stegen (33) continue to guide the dressing room, ensuring a blend of freshness and maturity.

CNN
9 hours ago
- CNN
Hundreds of protesters turn up to support Irish rapper as he appears in court on terror charge
A rapper from Irish language rap group Kneecap was greeted by hundreds of supporters waving flags and holding banners as he arrived in court on Wednesday morning on a terror charge. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, has been accused of displaying a flag in support of the Lebanese group, Hezbollah who are a designated terror group in the UK. London's Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in April after a video surfaced online of Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displaying the flag during a London gig in 2024. Ó hAnnaidh has denied the charges, saying he does not support Hezbollah and called his prosecution a 'carnival of distraction' deflecting from current events in Gaza. A scrum with photographers broke out as Ó hAnnaidh arrived at London's Westminster Magistrates Court, alongside fellow bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, as crowds waved Palestinian flags and chanted loudly, 'Free Mo Chara.' Ó hAnnaidh spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address to the court at the start of the hearing. The court heard legal arguments, with Ó hAnnaidh's defense team seeking to throw the case out, arguing it was not brought within the legal limit of six months. Judge Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will give his decision. The 27-year-old left court without entering a plea, and will be required to appear at the next hearing. Leaving the courthouse, he was met with chants of 'Drop the charges now' from his supporters. The investigation was launched shortly after an appearance by the band at the California music festival, Coachella, at which they projected messages onstage about Israel's war in Gaza. On Tuesday evening, police announced public order restrictions on the protests in order to 'prevent serious disruption,' confining gatherings to a designated area outside the court. From early on Wednesday morning, crowds of protesters congregated outside the central London court. Speaking to CNN, one supporter, Mike McCusker, 62, said he had been following Kneecap since 2019. 'I've seen them a dozen times, they've always stood against oppression,' he said. Kneecap, who rap mainly in Irish, have steadily built up an international fanbase, gaining praise for their efforts to revitalize the Irish language. Formed in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2017, the band have sought to modernize the language through their rap songs depicting their experiences growing up in the wake of a decades long sectarian conflict, the Troubles. Laden with references to drug and alcohol use and critiques of the British government, the band's music has made them no stranger to controversy over the years. In 2024, the trio released their second studio album 'Fine Art' and a self-titled semi-autobiographical feature film which won acclaim from critics and scooped up awards at both the British Independent Film Awards and the Sundance Film Festival. The band have been long-time advocates for the rights of Palestinians. Their performance at UK music festival Glastonbury in June became mired in controversy after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the group should not have been allowed to perform in light of the charges faced by Ó hAnnaidh. The group are next set to play at several more European festivals this summer before a headline gig in London's Wembley Arena on September 18. CNN's Sophie Tanno contributed reporting.