Fresh F1 newcomer amazes during initial practice session at Spielberg circuit
💥 Austrian Grand Prix Kickoff: The Return of an Irish Legend! 🇮🇪
Last year's champion George Russell snatched the top spot in the opening practice session for the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, clocking a blazing 1:05.542 in the pouring rain. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri followed closely behind, setting the stage for an electrifying race weekend.
The qualifying session on Saturday, 16:00, promises sunny skies, but will Mercedes maintain their pace in warmer temperatures? Keep an eye out for the action!
In the afternoon, McLaren took the lead when Lando Norris scorched the track with a record-breaking 1:04.580. Piastri, Norris' teammate, wasn't far behind, finishing just 0.157 seconds behind. Verstappen claimed third place, with Lance Stroll surprisingly strong in the Aston Martin, taking fourth.
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The headlines were created by 19-year-old Alex Dunne, a Bray native in County Wicklow, Ireland. Dunne, a McLaren Driver Development Programme member since 2024, made history as the first driver from the Republic of Ireland to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend in 43 years! He drove Lando Norris' MCL39 in the first practice session (FP1) on the Red Bull Ring track, breaking the long-standing drought of Irish drivers in F1 since Derek Daly and Tommy Byrne in 1982.
Dunne, born on November 11, 2005, is a rising star who competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Rodin Motorsport in 2025. His illustrious career includes winning the 2022 F4 British Championship and finishing runner-up in the 2023 GB3 Championship[5].
Ten minutes remaining in the first session, competitors reported light rain, but Dunne held strong, navigating heavy traffic like a seasoned pro. After a promising debut, the Irish lad finished fourth with a time of 1:05.766, hot on the heels of Piastri.
Lewis Hamilton struggled with Ferrari gearbox issues and finished the session in a disappointing ninth place, potentially missing out on the podium for the 13th consecutive Grand Prix, shattering his personal record. Dino Beganovic, an 18-year-old Swedish driver, filled in for Ferrari in the second car.
Fernando Alonso experienced a minor spin on the start-finish straight but walked away unscathed. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting race weekend!
[References][1] BBC Sports. (2025). Alex Dunne set for Formula 1 debut at Austrian Grand Prix. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula-1/53743397
[2] Formula 1. (2025). Alex Dunne to make Formula 1 race weekend debut for McLaren at Austrian Grand Prix. Retrieved from https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alex-dunne-to-make-formula-1-race-weekend-debut-for-mclaren-at-austrian-grand-prix.2MvAQ0nLxENp0PqGzfWYDG.html
[3] Sky Sports. (2025). Irish driver Alex Dunne driven to make history. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13752/12670408/irish-driver-alex-dunne-preparing-to-make-f1-history-in-austria
[4] Autosport. (2025). Alex Dunne to get FP1 run in Austrian GP with McLaren. Retrieved from https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/104328/alex-dunne-to-get-fp1-run-in-austrian-gp-with-mclaren
[5] Wikipedia. (2025). Alex Dunne. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Dunne
During the race weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, Formula 1 returns to showcase the skills of an Irish talent in the racetrack. Alex Dunne, a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, is the first driver from the Republic of Ireland to participate in a race weekend since 1982, making a splash in the first practice session. Despite the heavy traffic and light rain, Dunne finished a promising fourth, demonstrating his potential in the world of sports.
