How Norris's replacement fits better at Red Bull than at McLaren

16:00, 23 Jun

Updated: 18:34, 23 Jun

byLudo van Denderen

While the general public in Formula 2 might mostly be watching Arvid Lindblad, there's a talent making just as much of an impression in his rookie year. McLaren rewards its own talent and championship leader Alex Dunne with a FP1 run in Austria.

In the Papaya-rules team, Alex Dunne is the odd one out. Where camaraderie and the team's interest always come first at McLaren, the Irishman is almost a guarantee for controversy. A 'play-it-safe' driver he is not, but rather an all-or-nothing racer, whose style perhaps fits better with Red Bull Racing than McLaren. Yet, Dunne is part of the McLaren Academy and is temporarily replacing Lando Norris this Friday at the Spielberg circuit.

What makes Dunne a potential top driver?

"I think Alex has got all the right ingredients to be successful,” is the opinion of Benn Huntingford, the Sporting Director at Rodin Motorsport - the team Dunne races for in F2. During a conversation with selected media - including GPblog - the Rodin boss says: "He's had good success in his junior career. He's got the backing of a Formula One team, so he's in the right place to be moving on from there.”

Huntingford has seen up close that Dunne's greatest strengths are ‘his raw talent’ and ‘his ability to put a fast lap together’. “Even though he's in his rookie year, we've talked about all the various things that the rookies have to learn and get on top of.”

Alex Dunne secured a second place in Spain

"Alongside doing those things, he's been able to do that and have that raw speed. I don't think he's taking the traditional route of being at the front of a championship, which is often we see drivers that just score lots of top five finishes and that's what eventually gets them to the front. Alex tends to be a bit all or nothing and he tends to have his own approach to things, but I think it's working okay for him.”

Dunne under fire on social media

A few weeks ago, F1, F2, and F3 issued a joint statement on swearing and ranting toward drivers via social media. This was in response to the comments Dunne had received online, after a crash with Victor Martins in Monaco. Later, Dunne stated he had taken his social media channels offline, due to the hostility he faced.

Huntingford commented on that joint statement: “It wasn't exclusive to what's been happening just with Alex, but also wider area and comments that are made generally online. I think we're supportive of them addressing the issue and trying to make the online environment a better place for the drivers and teams and for the fans.”