Lando Norris sidelined for Austrian GP practice as McLaren reveal replacement

The McLaren F1 team has announced Alex Dunne will partake in his first F1 free practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.

Dunne, who currently leads the F2 drivers' championship, will replace Lando Norris for the 60-minute outing.

Dunne has been part of McLaren's junior programme since mid-2024 and had his first taste of F1 machinery in May last month, driving the MCL60 at Zandvoort as he prepared for his weekend debut.

McLaren has now confirmed the 19-year-old's drive, with the 19-year-old set to become the first Irishman to take part in a grand prix weekend since Ralph Firman in 2003.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to drive during FP1 in Austria,” Dunne said. 

“I’m really looking forward to getting laps in behind the wheel of the MCL39 and supporting the team with the setup for the race weekend ahead.

“I’ve been preparing well for the sessions, taking part in Testing of Previous Cars tests in the MCL60 and spending time on the simulator, which has been a fantastic learning experience. 

“Thank you to Zak [Brown], Andrea [Stella] and Alessandro [Alunni Bravi] for their faith in me. 

“It’s a great step within my development with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, and I’m really excited to join the team trackside.”

Dunne's outing this weekend will mark the first time McLaren has given a rookie an FP1 experience this season.

Every team is required to issue four practice sessions to a rookie driver throughout the 2025 campaign, double the requirement from last year.