Norris or Piastri to get a head start at Monza: Dunne takes over a McLaren

Updated: 17:03, 02 Sep 2025

A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.

Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris will be relieved of their duties by McLaren young driver Alex Dunne, which will mark his second FP1 outing after Austria.

Currently, Piastri holds a lead of 34 points in the championship over Norris. As the grid heads to Monza for the 16th round of the championship, McLaren have announced that Alex Dunne, currently competing in F2, is set to participate in his second FP1 of the season.

Dunne takes over a McLaren cockpit, but which one?

During his first outing, the Irishman made a stellar impression, finishing only 0.069s off Piastri’s pace and taking P4 in the timing sheets.

Now Dunne will take over one of the two MCL39 cockpits, McLaren has announced, for FP1 at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Having replaced Norris in Austria, and since traditionally drivers take turns in relinquishing their drives for a rookie to take their place during one of the four mandatory FP1 sessions teams have to field a rookie in their cars, it should be Piastri who makes way for the Irishman.

Whether it will be Norris or Piastri who is to make way for the up-and-coming driver is yet to be announced officially by the team.

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Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	131
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	72
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	48
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	20
9	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	16
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	14
13	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
14	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	5
15	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
17	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	1
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0

Norris or Piastri to get a head start at Monza: Dunne takes over a McLaren

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