Alex Dunne left emotional after making his Formula 1 debut
Irish racer Alex Dunne was left increasingly emotional on Friday after making his Formula 1 debut at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old branded the moment 'definitely the best day of my life' as he posted the fourth-fastest time in opening practice.
The Offaly native stood in for McLaren's Lando Norris as part of McLaren's four mandatory sessions across the season where a rookie driver will take part in first practice. Irish racer Alex Dunne was left increasingly emotional on Friday after making his Formula 1 debut at the Austrian Grand Prix. Pic: James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images
Dunne is a McLaren development driver and leads the Formula 2 standings currently.
'I want to say a massive thank you, you made a little boy's dream come true,' Dunne said on his team radio.
'This is definitely the best day of my life,' he added. @mclaren
A day Alex will never forget 🧡 #McLaren #F1 ♬ scott street – ☆
'Thank you everyone for letting me do this and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car. It means a lot.'
Alex has come leaps and bounds since his karting days, having made a name for himself early on in the European circuit.
The Irish star debuted in car racing in 2021, and by 2022, he had already won the British F4 Championship, dominating leader boards at every opportunity. The 19-year-old branded the moment 'definitely the best day of my life' as he posted the fourth-fastest time in opening practice. Pic: Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In 2022, Alex also competed in the Italian F4 Championship, finishing runner-up.
In 2025, he was announced as a Formula 2 driver, an unsurprising move for the rising star.
Could this be the start of a lengthy partnership with F1? We hope so! Congrats Alex!
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