Latest news with #Zandvoort
France 24
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- France 24
Verstappen shades Piastri for pole at Silverstone
McLaren's championship leader Oscar Piastri will start alongside the Dutchman on the front row of Sunday's race. Piastri's teammate Lando Norris starts on the second row with the Mercedes of George Russell for company. Piastri took provisional pole until Verstappen produced a perfect final flying lap to front the grid by only a tenth of a second from the Australian. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc made it an all Ferrari third row. "It was tricky out there with the wind, it was all shifting around a bit and around here with these cars, it is extremely sensitive to it," said four-time former world champion Verstappen. "This is a proper track, when you have to go flat out you have to be super committed. "We are quite quick on the straight, we have to wait and see what tomorrow will do but I am happy -- it is a big boost for the team and excited to go racing tomorrow," the 27-year-old added.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
'I've always wanted to reach F1. Now it's a step closer'
"I said to myself at the start of the year, 'what if I never get to drive a Formula 1 car?'."Alex Dunne didn't need to worry. After stepping into Formula 2 this year - the category below F1 - the 19-year-old McLaren development driver has impressed with his speed and leads the standings with two victories to his form led to a first Formula 1 outing in a private event at Zandvoort in the Netherlands in now he will become the first Irish driver to participate on a Formula 1 weekend in 22 years when he deputises for Lando Norris in the opening practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix. "When me and my dad got told we would be able to drive a F1 car this year, my dad got a little bit emotional and I laughed at him," joked Dunne."Nah, I got emotional as well. It's a big thing."We have always wanted to make it for Formula 1 and it's one step closer." Driving a Formula 1 car at any time is a big deal, and doing it on a Grand Prix weekend in a championship-leading car is a huge says it is not only a reward for his form, but a development opportunity for the has a bigger picture to focus on too. When he pulls back into the garage, he will swap the McLaren MCL39 for his Formula 2 car and it's back to the day job as he tries to win the currently leads the standings after six rounds, largely thanks two victories in Bahrain and Imola, a pole position in Monaco and an impressive recovery drive from 19th to second in Barcelona. Dunne may only be 19, but he recognised the bigger picture in front of him."It's important not to focus too much on F1, it's important to focus on F2 and trying to do as well as I can. "If I get too wrapped up in it I can quickly forget about what I need to do this year."The whole point of focusing on F2 and making sure I have good results this year, is so hopefully then at the end of the year there is an opportunity to be a F1 driver. "There are no guarantees, but that's what I'm working towards and that's what I want." 'It was amazing' Wednesday, 7 May is a day that Dunne will never forget as he stepped into a Formula 1 car for the first time at watching the team's regular drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who are first and second in the F1 standings, it was Dunne's turn to hit the circuit."To have that opportunity was pretty amazing."McLaren have made it pretty clear that they believe in me to do well and they have been really pushing me and supporting me."I got to watch Lando and Oscar drive and speak to them in detail to see what I could learn."There's a lot to learn from both of them and I can take that forward with me."Dunne accepts "there's no guarantee I'll make it to F1" despite his upwards career trajectory."It was slightly easier to adapt to than I expected. The car was unbelievable. The grip, the brakes, everything," Dunne said on his Zandvoort experience."Even in a straight line it feels fast. When you are racing in F2 or F3, it doesn't necessarily feel that quick when you put your foot down. "But when I put my foot down in the F1 car, I was like 'wow, this is pretty quick'. "Even the G-forces you pull through the corners, at the end of the day my neck was a little bit sore. "Some of the stuff you can do in the car, you wonder how it's even possible." 'Wow, this is actually going to happen' Dunne's racing CV is impressive. He dominated the British F4 championship in 2022 and in the same year he finished second in Italian F4, finishing second to Mercedes F1 driver Kimi then finished second in the British GB3 championship in his rookie year, and impressed on his debut at the Macau Grand Prix before he stepped up to the F1 support series in 2024 with MP Motorsport in Formula 3. He claimed two podiums, including one at the final round in Monza, but was 14th in the standings in an up-and-down campaign."It's nice this year to be back to where I think I should be. I think it proves what was happening last year wasn't because of me."At only the second round in Bahrain, Dunne dominated the feature race to become the first Irish driver to win in Formula 2. It was normal service resumed."I always expected it to be good, I maybe didn't expect it to be this good."It was over the last couple of laps where it was like, 'this is actually going to happen pretty early'."When I pulled in at the end of the race and seen the team, my dad, Zak Brown [McLaren CEO] and all of McLaren standing there, it was very nice. "A cool moment for me was on the podium, on the other side of the track there was some people holding an Irish flag with my name on it. It's something I'm very proud of." Another impressive victory followed at Imola, as Dunne carved his way through the order to win his second race of the year. At the following round, Dunne set a stunning lap to take pole position around the famous streets of Monaco. However, he was penalised for a first-lap collision and handed a 10-place grid penalty for the next race in Barcelona. Starting in 19th, Dunne capitalised on a late pit stop for fresh tyres to finish second and regain the championship lead he lost in Monaco. In Dunne's words, that type of recovery shows the "mental resilience" required to fight for the title - both as a driver and his Rodin Motorsport team. "That's something I can be proud of, each time we have had something difficult or go wrong, we have come back and done something pretty special. "The fact we are able to forget about the little things that have happened and bounce back straight away is a very good quality to have."Dunne acknowledges he is in a good place in both his career and the Formula 2 standings, "but it's important that it's after 14 rounds and not six"."It's important to stay consistent, not try and do anything crazy, have good qualifying and score good points in the sprint race and the feature. "If I keep doing what I'm doing, and keep chipping away at it, then hopefully the opportunities will come."You can follow Alex Dunne's first Formula 1 session at the Austrian Grand Prix on the BBC Sport website and app from Friday at 12:30 BST.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dunne to drive for McLaren in Austria F1 practice
Alex Dunne leads the Formula 2 championship in his first year in the series [Getty Images] Alex Dunne will become the first Irish driver to participate in a Formula 1 weekend in 22 years at the Austrian Grand Prix. The teenager will replace championship leader Oscar Piastri/championship challenger Lando Norris (delete appropriate driver) in first practice on Friday for frontrunners McLaren. Advertisement Dunne, who is a development driver for McLaren, has impressed in his first year in Formula 2 and he leads the championship has won two races and leads the championship. He prepared for his first practice session by getting his first drive in an old Formula 1 car at Zandvoort in March. It is understood Dunne, 19, had a second test at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas to further prepare for his first Formula 1 weekend. Dunne will become the first Irish driver to participate on a Grand Prix weekend since Ralph Firman in 2003. English-born Firman raced under an Irish licence for Jordan Grand Prix for a sole season in 2003. Advertisement The last driver born on the island of Ireland to compete in Formula 1 was former Ferrari and Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine, who was from Northern Ireland and raced under a UK licence from 1993 to 2002. Formula 1 teams have to offer young or rookie drivers four mandatory practice sessions in the 24-race season. Dunne's appearance in Austria will be a second session for McLaren after it was announced IndyCar star Pato O'Ward will run at his home race in October's Mexican Grand Prix. It is reward for Dunne's impressive performances since stepping up to Formula 2 this season. He claimed a first victory of the season for Rodin Motorsport in Bahrain at the second round, and won again at Imola in May. Advertisement Dunne also qualified on pole position with a blistering lap in Monaco, but was deemed at fault and handed a grid penalty for a first-corner crash that took him, and several other drivers, out of the race. However, he put in a superb drive at the following round in Barcelona to go from the penalty-inflicted 19th to second, and reclaimed the championship lead with fifth place in the feature race. The opening Formula 1 practice session takes place at 12:30 BST on Friday. Dunne, a former British F4 champion and GB3 Championship runner-up, will continue his Formula 2 campaign at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on top of his Formula 1 commitments.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Dunne to drive for McLaren in Austria F1 practice
Alex Dunne will become the first Irish driver to participate in a Formula 1 weekend in 22 years at the Austrian Grand teenager will replace championship leader Oscar Piastri/championship challenger Lando Norris (delete appropriate driver) in first practice on Friday for frontrunners who is a development driver for McLaren, has impressed in his first year in Formula 2 and he leads the championship has won two races and leads the prepared for his first practice session by getting his first drive in an old Formula 1 car at Zandvoort in is understood Dunne, 19, had a second test at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas to further prepare for his first Formula 1 weekend. Dunne will become the first Irish driver to participate on a Grand Prix weekend since Ralph Firman in Firman raced under an Irish licence for Jordan Grand Prix for a sole season in last driver born on the island of Ireland to compete in Formula 1 was former Ferrari and Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine, who was from Northern Ireland and raced under a UK licence from 1993 to 1 teams have to offer young or rookie drivers four mandatory practice sessions in the 24-race appearance in Austria will be a second session for McLaren after it was announced IndyCar star Pato O'Ward will run at his home race in October's Mexican Grand is reward for Dunne's impressive performances since stepping up to Formula 2 this season. He claimed a first victory of the season for Rodin Motorsport in Bahrain at the second round, and won again at Imola in May. Dunne also qualified on pole position with a blistering lap in Monaco, but was deemed at fault and handed a grid penalty for a first-corner crash that took him, and several other drivers, out of the he put in a superb drive at the following round in Barcelona to go from the penalty-inflicted 19th to second, and reclaimed the championship lead with fifth place in the feature race. The opening Formula 1 practice session takes place at 12:30 BST on a former British F4 champion and GB3 Championship runner-up, will continue his Formula 2 campaign at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on top of his Formula 1 commitments.
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Podium for Smiley as McLaughlin retakes title lead
Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin reclaimed the lead in the British F4 championship after he won the opening race at Oulton Park. The teenager from Northern Ireland won the first race on Saturday after jumping championship rival Martin Molnar at the start. McLaughlin came into the fifth round of the season behind Molnar in the standings but he reclaimed the championship lead by finishing seventh in race two, while the Hungarian driver retired. In a repeat of the opening race, McLaughlin got past polesitter Molnar heading into the first corner in the final outing of the day and looked set for a dominant vicotry. However, a heavy rain shower caused a number of drivers to slide off the road, including McLaughlin and Molnar, and that allowed Thomas Bearman into the lead. McLaughlin recovered to sixth before a number of safety cars and a red flag halted the race early and half points were awarded. Hitech Racing driver McLaughlin now leads Molnar by 5.5 points ahead of the sixth round of the season in his first year of car racing, McLaughlin also leads the rookie championship by 82.5 points over Bearman, who is the younger brother of Haas Formula 1 driver Ollie. In the British Touring Car Championship, Northern Ireland's Chris Smiley collected his best result of the season by finishing third in race one. The Restart Racing driver qualified second and dropped to fourth on the opening lap, but passed championship leader Ash Sutton on the final lap to take a podium spot. Smiley dropped back to 14th on the slower hard tyre in race two, and an electrical problem forced him to retire from the third and final race of the day. The Carrickfergus driver is ninth in the overall championship and leads the Independent championship after a strong start to the season after five rounds.
