Mum & dad met in Mondello, tough time after 11-car crash & straight answers from Lando Norris… Alex Dunne spills all

The Irish Sun

7 days ago

ALEX DUNNE was born with petrol in his veins - so pursuing a career in Formula 1 was only natural.
The
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Rising star...Alex celebrates after victory in Imola
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Family backing...Alex with his dad Noel
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Alex in action during the first free practice session at the F1 Austrian GP
Credit: AP:Associated Press
A successful debut season in Formula 2 - the rung below Formula 1, in which he sits third in the overall championship standings - has also seen him take his first steps in
In
He is also a reserve driver for their team in
Even by the standards that characterise the sport itself, the Irishman's rise has been rapid.
He told SunSport: "Obviously, FP1 was a big moment and a big opportunity for me.
"I said on the radio at the end of it that a little boy's dream had come true that day. I think for me that is something I got to appreciate.
"In terms of being in F2, I'd say yes I appreciate it, but it is also the natural progression of going through the feeder series and it is somewhere that I hoped to be if I did a good job."
Dunne considers his own career development in 2025 a surprise given it came off the back of a 2024 that saw him finish 14th in Formula 3.
He added: "I think the big thing for me was the fact that last year in F3 was very difficult and I didn't really get the opportunity to fully show what I am capable of.
"I think the amount that it has flipped on its head in one year is probably the big thing.
Alex Dunne reunites with faily after Formula 1 debut at Austrian GP
"It has gone from a very difficult year in F3, not really sure what our plans were for the year after, to all of a sudden being in contention in F2 and having an opportunity in F1.
"The saying is you are only as good as your last race. It has proven to be very important at the minute.
"It would be very easy to get wrapped up in the whole idea of F1 and focus on that too much.
"Realistically, I have to stay focused on F2 and the best opportunity I am going to give myself to be an F1 driver is by winning F2."
"Motorsport is one of those things that if you do well you end up making a lot of money but it is a job you would happily do for free."
When you consider his family background, a career in motorsport seems to have been predetermined.
A prodigious talent, he started competitive karting when he was eight and won several Irish titles before progressing to junior formula in 2021.
He won the 2022 F4 British Championship with Hitech while still only 16.
That same year, he finished second in the F4 Italian Championship to Kimi Antonelli, who is now driving for
His dad Noel has been a constant presence in the paddock throughout all of this.
Noel is a former driver himself, as was his own dad Matthew, while Alex's mum Elizabeth also comes from racing stock.
Dunne explained: "I would say the person who pushed me the most was my dad. My dad and my mum were big motorsport people.
"They met in Mondello. My mum worked in Mondello and obviously my dad was a racing car driver so motorsport has always been a big family thing.
"I think when I was a kid, regardless of whether I was interested in motorsport - obviously I was, but I was always around it anyway.
"My mum was involved in it, my dad was a driver, so I think it has always been around me from a young age.
"My dad was always the one who pushed me the most. I don't think I ever needed motivation because I have always enjoyed it.
"Motorsport is one of those things that if you do well you end up making a lot of money but it is a job you would happily do for free."
FAST START
In May 2024, Dunne signed with the McLaren Driver Development Programme and, in February, joined the Rodin Motosport F2 team.
Success followed shortly thereafter.
In March, he finished ninth in the sprint race in
That landmark gave him the outright lead in the F2 Championship, a position he reclaimed with a win in Imola in May.
It was not all plain sailing, however, as his involvement in an 11-car crash in Barcelona led to Alex
It was a stark reminder of the consequence of a burgeoning profile and reputation, but one he is taking in his stride.
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Race winner Alex Dunne, second place Luke Browning and third place Dino Beganovic celebrate with ice cream during the Round 4 Imola Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
He said: "I don't want to go into it too much, but I knew straight away what people were going to say.
"That's the way with motorsport and social media, unfortunately. I think when you see the stuff online and what people have to say, it is not a surprise.
"It is just unfortunately how some people are and whether or not their opinions are right or wrong, it is irrelevant.
"For me, I try to ignore it all because realistically people who say these things and people who give you their opinions are always people whose opinions probably aren't correct or are not necessarily entitled to one,
"It is important to focus and listen to the people around me and the only opinions that matter are from my family and from Rodin and McLaren and people who are working with me."
"Every time I have asked them a question, they have always given me a straight answer and they have always been interested in helping me which is nice so they have both been helpful."
Dunne's reaction to the outcry was emphatic when McLaren, impressed by his progress, gave him a taste of his ultimate dream in Austria at the end of June.
For the first free practice session before the Formula 1 Austrian GP, Alex Dunne was given the chance to fill in for established McLaren star Lando Norris.
Dunne was the
He was not overawed by the occasion as he clocked the fourth fastest time, faster than the likes of
Only
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
Norris would go on to win the Austrian GP outright and remark: "I might give Alex my FP1 seat every time."
And the Irishman praised both the Englishman and Piastri for being open in sharing their knowledge with the starlet.
He added: "I spoke with Lando quite a bit recently.
"The week before FP1, I did an F1 test. On the second day, I was sharing the car with Lando so, during the day, I spoke to him quite a lot about numerous different things.
"I think there are little things I always try to pick up on. I think also from Oscar as well. They are both very good drivers.
"Obviously, first and second in the world championships so I kind of try to learn what I can but they have also been very accommodating.
"They haven't necessarily been trying to hide it.
"Every time I have asked them a question, they have always given me a straight answer and they have always been interested in helping me which is nice so they have both been helpful."
When he returned to the McLaren paddock, he was greeted by his dad and who many, including this writer, believed to be his brother in an Offaly jersey.
But he revealed: "He actually is not my brother. He is the son of my sponsor. He is actually one of my good friends.
"With everything on social media, everyone thinks he is my brother. You are not the only one!
"My dad has been there with me every weekend. Warren Hughes, who is my driving coach with McLaren, he has always been there by my side. Luke, in the Offaly jersey, him and his dad who is my sponsor have been there pretty much every race week this year."
CHASING GLORY
Dunne was disqualified from the F2 Austrian GP that same weekend but bounced back by claiming his fifth podium of the season in England at the start of July.
The next race weekend is in
On Monday, he tested for the Formula E team which made for a unique experience in and of itself.
He added: "FE is electric and with that the torque is instantaneous when you go on the power so it delivers all the power straight away, whereas in an F2 car, for example, much the same as a manual road car, the speed builds up as you go up through the gears.
"Then what I would call 'push 350' is when you can turn up the power mode and engage four wheel drive and have power from all four wheels whereas in F2, it is just the rear wheels so that is another thing to get used to.
"I think in general in Formula E, there are no slicks; it is a road tire, basically, so in dry conditions you have less grip and in wet conditions you have much less grip and then also there is very, very different down force.
"It is a completely different beast."
The 19-year-old is not looking beyond the end of this current season, but has grand designs for what he will have accomplished.
He declared: "Win F2. I think that is a simple one.
"The best opportunity I am going to give myself to be an F1 driver is by winning F2. I think it is as simple as that.
"If I get the opportunities to do another FP1, it will be to do the exact same thing I did in Austria but even better.
"If I can continue to improve and do a good job every time I get in the car, that will help my chances."