Alex Dunne, the 19-year-old rising star from Ireland, is set to make history as the first Irish driver to participate in a Formula 1 weekend in 22 years. He will take the wheel for McLaren during the first practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix this Friday, stepping in for Lando Norris, who is currently in the championship race.

Dunne, who is also a McLaren development driver, has been making waves in his debut season in Formula 2, securing two victories and leading the championship. To prepare for his F1 debut, Dunne completed test drives in older F1 cars at Zandvoort in March and at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

"It's an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria. I'm really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the set-up for the race weekend ahead," Dunne expressed.

Dunne’s journey to F1 has been marked by significant achievements, including a win at Imola and a pole position in Monaco, despite a grid penalty due to a first-corner crash. He showcased his resilience with a remarkable drive from 19th to second place in Barcelona, reclaiming the championship lead.

The first practice session at the Red Bull Ring in Austria is scheduled for 12:30 BST on Friday. Dunne will balance his F1 commitments with his ongoing Formula 2 campaign at the same venue.

This historic moment for Irish motorsport follows in the footsteps of Ralph Firman, the last Irish driver to participate in an F1 weekend in 2003. Dunne’s participation underscores the importance of young driver programs in F1, with teams required to offer four practice sessions to rookies or young drivers each season.

As Dunne gears up for his F1 debut, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this young talent will perform on one of the biggest stages in motorsport.