As the Formula E World Championship rolls into Berlin for the 2025 E-Prix double-header, rising Irish talent Alex Dunne is preparing for another chance to get behind the wheel of the NEOM McLaren Formula E car.
The Berlin Rookie Test, taking place alongside the main event at Tempelhof Airport, marks Dunne’s second outing in the Gen3 Evo machine, having previously impressed during a rookie Free Practice session in Jeddah earlier this year.
Currently competing in his rookie Formula 2 campaign with Rodin Motorsport, Dunne sits third in the championship standings and continues to turn heads with his consistent performances — including a maiden victory and several podiums. Alongside his F2 duties, the 19-year-old also serves as McLaren’s Reserve and Development Driver in Formula E, deepening his integration into one of motorsport’s most prestigious teams.
Speaking to exclusively Pit Debrief, Dunne opened up about the impact of being part of the McLaren family, his development as a driver, and how lessons from the past are shaping his future.
“It’s a pretty special thing to be part of McLaren”
Dunne joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2024 with much anticipation, but rather than feel pressure, he sees the support system as a relief.
He admitted, “I get asked this quite a lot. I don’t think it adds pressure, to be honest. I think if anything, it takes pressure off.”
“As a driver and as a family, financially, one of the things I’ve always struggled with in motorsport is finances. That’s something McLaren has helped with a lot.”
“Their support this year, especially being in F2, has really pushed me on and helped me become a better driver. Whether it’s fitness or the mental side — all the different aspects — they’ve done a lot for me.”
Strong foundations in F2
It’s rare to see a rookie make such an immediate impact in Formula 2, a notoriously competitive series. But Dunne has done just that — and even he admits to being a little surprised. Dunne reflected, “I expected to be competitive, maybe not to the level it has been.”
“I knew how strong the team were — they were very good last year. I think Rodin also won both races with Zane [Maloney] in Bahrain as well last year.”
“Through pre-season testing and then again in Melbourne, I knew the pace was there. But it was just about putting a few more things together.”
Despite the rapid learning curve of F2, Dunne has shown composure beyond his years, balancing consistency with flashes of brilliance.
On standby: Would he be ready to race in Formula E?
For most rookies, a racing debut comes after months of preparation. They’ve tested, debriefed, visualised every possible scenario. They’ve studied the data, walked the track, rehearsed every procedure. They’re nervous, yes—but ready. That wasn’t the case for Taylor Barnard at the 2024 Monaco E-Prix.
The McLaren Reserve and Development Driver was thrown into the spotlight with barely 20 minutes’ notice when Sam Bird suffered a hand injury following a crash in the opening practice session. One moment, Barnard was on standby; the next, he was suiting up to race through the narrow streets of Monte Carlo in his first-ever Formula E appearance.
Speaking from his own perspective, Alex Dunne was candid when asked whether he would have felt ready in a similar situation.
“I don’t know. I’d say half prepared,” Dunne admitted. “If it was dry, I’d probably be okay. But in the rain, I think these cars in the rain look very, very difficult. And I think even with drivers that have eight, nine years of experience in Formula E—if you look at them in quali—even they were massively struggling.”
Dunne’s response was both a show of respect for Barnard’s composure and a reality check on just how tough Formula E machinery can be to master—especially under pressure. “So, I think it’s very, very tricky and a testament to all the drivers on the grid as well,” he concluded. “I think it would have been different.”
Why Formula E?
With many young drivers looking beyond Formula 1, Formula E is increasingly becoming an appealing path. For Dunne, his entry into electric racing came naturally through McLaren’s development structure.
“When I got asked, I wasn’t really going to say no,” he said with a smile. “The opportunity came about through being part of the Driver Development Programme.”
“Although the F2 car and Formula E car are so different, I think as a driver it’s always good to be learning new things and working with different people. It’s another way to be integrated even further with McLaren.”
“There were a lot of things that made me think it was a good idea — mainly just doing a new thing and continuing to grow.”
Lessons from a tough year
Motorsport is as much a mental game as it is physical, and Dunne doesn’t shy away from discussing the psychological toll of a difficult season. After a challenging 2024 campaign in Formula 3, he’s come back stronger — and more introspective.
“Last year, F3 for me was quite tricky — definitely a year I don’t want to experience again,” he admitted. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is to stay strong mentally and not listen to what people have to say.”
“Sometimes you can have two really strong years and then one difficult one, and suddenly people say a lot of things that are irrelevant. You just have to focus on yourself, work with the team, and if you put the effort into the right things, you’ll get where you want to be.”
Advice to his younger self
When asked what advice he’d give to a younger version of himself, the answer was simple but profound: “Stay calm. It’ll all work itself out.”
In a sport where pressure is constant and expectations high, Alex Dunne continues to demonstrate maturity, adaptability, and resilience — all traits that bode well for a long and successful career, whether that’s in Formula 1, Formula E, or wherever his talent takes him next.
As he prepares for his third taste of Formula E machinery in Berlin, there’s a growing sense that this is only the beginning of a broader journey for one of Ireland’s brightest motorsport prospects.
