Grid penalties fail to stop Alex regaining F2 Championship lead

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A fantastic Sprint race podium from 19th on the grid and a fifth place Feature race finish, which would have been even better if not for a late race safety car, sent Alex Dunne back to the top of the F2 championship standings as the series reached its half way point.

Alex overcame a total of sixteen places in grid penalties to once again prove his credentials as one of the favourites for the 2025 F2 crown, even though he is competing in his first season at this level.

You can read the official FIA F2 Sprint Race report HERE, with the Feature race available HERE. You can also watch highlights of both races on the FIA F2 YouTube channel, SPRINT RACE & FEATURE RACE.

 

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Alex Dunne takes second F2 feature race win

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A second F2 win in three feature races has marked Alex out as one of the favourites for the 2025 F2 crown. Having become the first F2 race winner from the Republic of Ireland for almost half a century, with his victory in Bahrain Alex took just a couple of weeks to follow up with his second win.

Alex took a comfortable win in Sunday’s feature race, having finished fifth in Saturday’s sprint to lead the championship as the series heads for Monaco.

You can read the official FIA F2 web site report HERE and catch footage of Alex’s victory on the FIA F2 YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxha1PpF99s.

 

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Alex makes history as first Irish FIA F2 race winner

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Alex Dunne took his first FIA F2 race win in the Bahrain feature race to become the first Irish driver to win in FIA F2 and the first Irish driver to win at this level since Derek Daly took his last European Formula 2 victory in 1979, forty six years ago.

The teenage Irish driver dominated Sunday’s feature race to move himself into second in the points standings after two rounds, just a single point of the top spot.

You can read all about how Alex made history on the official FIA F2 web site and catch footage of Alex’s historic win on the FIA F2 YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7BylHrws5w

 

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Alex talks to ‘Off The Ball’ about F2 and his F1 prospects

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OFF THE BALL PODCAST:
Alex Dunne, From Offaly to Formula 2 and the prospects of racing in Formula One next season

As he gets set to head for Melbourne, Alex Dunne joins Eoin Sheahan to look ahead to the start of his first season in F2 and what the potential is for him to be behind the wheel of a Formula One car by next year!

 

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Rodin Motorsport complete 2025 line-up with Alexander Dunne

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Rodin Motorsport have finalised their line-up for the upcoming Formula 2 season with Alexander Dunne set to race alongside Christian Mansell for them in 2025.

Dunne steps up to F2 after a rookie year in Formula 3 during which he achieved two podiums, coming in the Barcelona and Monza Sprint Races, going on to finish 14th in the Drivers’ Championship.

Prior to that, the McLaren Development Driver Programme member won the 2022 British F4 title, and also finished as the runner-up in Italian F4 that year and in the 2023 GB3 Championship.

The Irishman will now move up to Formula 2 with Rodin Motorsport in 2025 having driven for the team on all three days of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi last year.

Speaking following the announcement, Dunne expressed his gratitude to the people that have helped him get to this point.

“I’m pleased to be able to confirm my plans for the 2025 season, which will see me joining Rodin Motorsport and participating in Formula 2,” said Dunne. “I’m looking forward to the upcoming season and thankful for everyone’s support in getting me to this stage – I can’t wait to hit the ground running.”

Rodin Motorsport Sporting Director and Team Manager Benn Huntingford added: “We are delighted to welcome Alex to Rodin Motorsport. Alex’s talent, dedication, and passion for racing align perfectly with our team’s values and ambitions. We are confident that he will make a significant impact in the upcoming season and know that he is capable of enjoying a really great season with the team.”

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NEOM McLAREN Formula E Team confirms Alex Dunne for Jeddah Rookie Free Practice Session

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The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team today confirms that Alex Dunne will drive for the team in the Rookie Free Practice session of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix, on Thursday, 13 February.

Alex, from Ireland, made his single seater racing debut in 2021, competing in the Spanish F4 Championship and finishing third in his first race. After moving to Formula 4, Alex continued to deliver impressive results, becoming the 2022 British F4 Champion as well as the Italian F4 vice-champion.

Alex’s 2023 campaign saw him finish second in the GB3 Championship with five victories and eight podiums across the season. In the same year, he also made his Macau Grand Prix debut, finishing second in the Qualifying Race. Since then, as well as joining the McLaren Driver Development programme, Alex raced with MP Motorsport in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship, scoring two podiums and a further seven top 10 finishes. Alex’s 2025 race programme, which he will contest alongside his Formula E duties, will be announced in due course.

The Rookie Free Practice session at the Jeddah E-Prix will be Alex’s first opportunity to get behind the wheel of GEN3 Evo machinery.

Alex Dunne, Reserve and Development Driver, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said, “I’m looking forward to getting my first chance to drive the GEN3 Evo for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team next week in Jeddah. To have this opportunity through the McLaren Driver Development programme feels incredible, and I’m so grateful to the team for putting their trust in me. I’ve been working hard in the simulator and with the team to prepare for this test, and I can’t wait to get out to Jeddah.”

Ian James, Team Principal, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team & Managing Director, NEOM McLaren Electric Racing, also commented, saying, “I’m very pleased that Alex will have the chance to test with the team at next week’s Rookie Free Practice session. As our Reserve and Development Driver, Alex has already been playing a key role within the team and has been supporting us through his work in the simulator. Throughout his junior career, Alex has shown great promise, and I know he’ll make the most of this opportunity.”

 

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Condron Concrete Announces Sponsorship Agreement with Rising Racing Star Alex Dunne

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Condron Concrete, the Tullamore-based leader in the Irish concrete industry, is thrilled to announce a major sponsorship agreement with Alex Dunne, Ireland’s most promising motor racing talent. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Alex’s career, as it provides crucial support for his 2025 and 2026 campaigns as he closes in on his Formula 1 goal.

Alex Dunne, who also hails from Offaly, has rapidly gained recognition as a rising Motorsport star, leading to him being signed by the McLaren F1 team as part of their Driver Development Programme. The sponsorship from Condron Concrete underscores the company’s commitment to supporting local talent and highlights the shared pride in their Offaly roots.

John Condron, Managing Director of Condron Concrete, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are immensely proud to support Alex on his journey to the pinnacle of motorsport. At Condron Concrete, we value hard work, resilience, and a connection to our community, qualities that Alex exemplifies both on and off the track. As a company rooted in Offaly, we couldn’t be more delighted to champion one of our own as he competes on the global stage.”

Alex Dunne shared his gratitude and excitement about the sponsorship: “I am incredibly grateful to Condron Concrete for believing in me and supporting my journey towards competing in Formula 1. This partnership means the world to me, not only because it provides the resources I need to push for a new chapter in my career but also because it comes from a company that shares my Offaly roots and values. I’m proud to represent Condron Concrete and Offaly as I aim for success in 2025.”

The partnership between Condron Concrete and Alex Dunne reflects a shared vision of excellence, determination, and community pride. With this agreement in place, Alex is now set to embark on the next stage of his exciting career.

About Condron Concrete Founded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Condron Concrete is a family-owned business known for its quality concrete products and commitment to sustainability. With a deep connection to the local community, the company supports a range of social and environmental initiatives, and remains dedicated to fostering the growth and success of Offaly sports.

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NEOM McLAREN Formula E Team announce Alex Dunne as Reserve and Development Driver

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The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team is excited to announce Alex Dunne as the team’s Reserve and Development Driver for the 2024/25 season of the FIA ABB Formula E World Championship.

In his role, Alex will work directly with the team in Bicester and Woking, contributing to development, while growing his knowledge and experience within the series. Alex has been part of the McLaren Racing family since May 2024, when he joined the McLaren Driver Development programme.

Alex, from Ireland, began his racing career at eight years old, before securing his first European karting title in 2019. In 2021, Alex made his single-seater debut competing in the 2021 Spanish F4 Championship, and secured a combined 16 race wins across the British, UAE and Italian Formula 4 Championships while racing for Hitech Grand Prix and US Racing. Alex was crowned the 2022 British F4 Champion as well as the Italian F4 Championship vice-champion.

In 2023, Alex was crowned vice-champion in the GB3 Championship with five victories and eight podiums. Last season, Alex competed in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with MP Motorsport while continuing his development with the support of the McLaren Driver Development programme.

Speaking on the announcement of his new role Alex said, “I’m excited to be joining the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team as Reserve and Development Driver. Working with NEOM McLaren as part of my experience in the McLaren Driver Development programme is an excellent opportunity to hone my skills. I’m looking forward to doing what I can to support the team and learn as much as possible.”

Ian James, Managing Director of NEOM McLaren Electric Racing also commented, “I am delighted to welcome Alex as the team’s Reserve and Development Driver. Alex is an up-and-coming talent in single-seater motorsport and has been part of the McLaren Driver Development programme since last season, through which we have been able to follow his progress and development. We are all looking forward to working with him in 2025. Alex will play an important role for us, adding value to the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team with his drive and talent, while also gaining experience himself along the way.

Alex’s 2025 race programme, which he will contest alongside his Formula E duties, will be announced in due course.

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Alex Dunne joins McLaren Driver Development programme

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The McLaren Formula One team recently announced that Offaly teenager Alex Dunne has joined their driver development programme, making him the first Irish Driver to be part of a Grand Prix teams’ young driver programme.

Currently driving in his maiden Formula 3 season, Dunne is a former British Formula 4 champion and runner up in both the British F3 and Italian F4 series. The Harris Group backed driver has made an excellent start to his first season in F3 as he builds his experience of racing in a Grand Prix support class for the first time.

Alex’s involvement in the McLaren Driver Development programme will see him join the team’s talent pipeline, which was established in 2022, following the team’s long history of developing talent in motorsport and has an overarching aim of helping drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E. The programme is led by F1 Business Operations Director Stephanie Carlin who was pleased to announce that Alex had joined the McLaren Driver Development programme and added that he was an exciting and promising young talent with a proven track record in Junior categories, including this season in F3.

Speaking about his McLaren opportunity, Dunne called joining the team an “honour” and believes it is the “perfect” place for him to grow as a driver. “It’s an honour to join the McLaren Driver Development programme and I’m looking forward to getting started with the team,” said Dunne. “McLaren provides the perfect environment for me to develop my skillset as I continue my journey in motorsport. I’m grateful for Zak and Stephanie’s support and I’m excited to meet the rest of the team at MTC (McLaren Technology Centre).”

Alex will continue to race in Formula 3 this season, wearing the McLaren colours and he aims to repay the teams support by continuing his strong progress in F3 this season before an intended move into F2 in 2025, as the final stepping stone on his way to racing in Formula One.

 

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FIA F3 Rounds 3 & 4, Melbourne, Australia – March 22-24 – event details

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You can follow Alex’s progress through Rounds 3 & 4 of the FIA F3 Championship on March 22nd – 24th, using the links below.

The event begins with practice and qualifying on Friday followed by Round 3 on Saturday and Round 4 on Sunday (Saturday evening Irish time).

TIMETABLE FRIDAY
Free Practice: 21:50 – 22:30
Qualifying 1: 03:00 – 03:30

TIMETABLE SATURDAY
Sprint Race: 00:10
Feature Race 20:05

LIVE TIMING

RESULTS

TV Coverage – Sky Sports F1

 

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