Former McLaren driver recalls unforgettable F1 debut: 'I'll always thank them'

Former McLaren development programme driver Alex Dunne has recalled his Formula 1 debut last year during first practice ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, insisting he will "always thank" the British team.

Dunne joined the McLaren junior system in May 2024 before making two first practice appearances last year, in Austria and Italy.

The Irishman looked highly competitive in both sessions, raising speculation over whether he was ready for a potential promotion from Formula 2 to Formula 1.

However, last October it was announced that McLaren and Dunne had parted ways, in a decision mutually agreed by both parties.

For now, Dunne is not affiliated with any F1 team, increasing the difficulty of potentially making a future step from Formula 2 to the pinnacle of motorsport.

Despite he and McLaren going their separate ways, Dunne insists he will always be grateful to the Woking-based team for handing him his F1 debut.

"It was pretty cool," Dunne told Balls.ie, reflecting on his F1 debut. "FP1 in Austria went pretty well, I would say. No, it was amazing, to be honest.

"Although I'm not still with them now, I'll always thank McLaren for that opportunity and for what they did for me up until we decided to go our separate ways.

"To have the opportunity to test an F1 car a couple of times outside of FP1 and then do two FP1s was obviously pretty special."