Alexander Dunne’s F2 Championship hopes remain alive as the he enters the final two rounds sitting fifth in the standings. Trailing championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli by 58 points, Dunne arrives in Qatar with 130 points—and an aggressive, nothing-to-lose attitude.
A bold approach for remaining races
Dunne’s mindset differs from the title contenders ahead of him. His position outside the top three gives him the freedom to adopt a more attacking style. Unlike his rivals, he does not have the same pressure of defending a points lead.
“Realistically, I have nothing to lose and all to gain,” Dunne said ahead of the double-header. “That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to go crazy at the last two rounds, but there are some things that maybe if Leo [Fornaroli] is in a position, he’d back out because he has more to lose, whereas for me, I can just push on.”
His F2 Championship strategy is simple: maximise every session and take calculated risks.
“The main approach is just to maximise both weekends. To put the lap together, have a strong Qualifying, drive as cleanly possible, make our way through the grid in the Sprint Race, and have a strong Feature Race. We are in a position were pushing to go for more is better than sacrificing and going for less. We will just have the same approach that we have had, through Qualifying and the weekend and when it comes to races, I am position where risking that little bit more is possible.”
A reset vital after disappointment in Monza and Baku
The break between Baku and Qatar provided a crucial reset. Identical mechanical issues in the Feature Races at both Monza and Baku had derailed Dunne’s momentum.
“Having a break was nice. After Monza and Baku, the Feature Race for both of those was the exact same issue unfortunately. So to have a while, spend some time with family, friends, with my girlfriend was nice, it was needed.”
The time away helped restore his confidence after the emotional dip that followed Baku.
“At the end of the Baku weekend, I was disappointed, and I felt that the championship was slipping away a little bit, but to have that break, have a chance to reset, come back completely refreshed, in new colours as well, it was nice to have a break and just reset a little bit.”
Feature Race targets take priority
Though still mathematically in the title fight, Dunne has recalibrated his goals. Redemption now forms the core of his late-season motivation.
“Ultimately the goal now if the Championship is not possible, try to win the last two Feature Races of the year would be very nice, at least to get back the win we lost earlier in the year. The team and I do a good job of working in harmony and that’s what we will continue to do.“
Dunne has already secured Feature Race victories in Jeddah and Imola, and his partnership with Rodin Motorsport has strengthened throughout the season, fueling confidence for the run-in
Optimistic ahead of Lusail Round
Dunne is particularly excited for the challenge at the Lusail International Circuit, a venue that suits his style.
“I’m excited. The pace has always been strong. Qatar has always been a track that I have enjoyed typically, sector three has a nice flow to it and I have always enjoyed the higher speed tracks.”
Extensive simulator work and a positive team environment, bolstered by teammate Martinius Stenshorne, have added to his optimism.
“I think the preparation has been good, we’ve done a lot of work in the sim and with the team. Martinius is here as well, he is someone I get along with, so the whole vibe in the team is nice and I am ready to go racing,” Dunne stated.
Dunne enters the final chapter of his F2 campaign embracing the underdog role. With strong pace, fresh motivation, and nothing to lose, he aims to close out the season with statement Feature Race victories in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
