Rodin Motorsport’s seventh-place finish in the 2025 Teams’ Standings tells only part of the story of what proved to be a competitive, if occasionally frustrating, F2 campaign. Behind the final classification lies a season marked by flashes of brilliance, costly penalties, and the clear emergence of promising talent.
The team notched two race victories within the opening four rounds, demonstrating early-season pace that suggested they could be genuine contenders. The tally nearly reached three, but Alexander Dunne’s potential triumph at Spa was denied by a time penalty, one of several setbacks that would characterise the year.
A season of promise and frustration
Sporting Director Benn Huntingford acknowledged the contrasting nature of the campaign when reflecting during the final round. “It was a mixed year,” he explained. “From our side, we had a lot of highlights and some really strong results with Alex [Dunne]. Right from the beginning of the season we were competitive. There were some races that didn’t quite pan out the way we wanted in terms of penalties and results and things like that.”
Despite the disappointments, Huntingford sees genuine reasons for optimism heading into 2026. “But on the whole, it was a positive rookie year for Alex. It’s put him in good stead for 2026 and we’re quite excited to build on everything we’ve done and take the good things into next year and hopefully be a bit closer to the front of the standings.”
Dunne’s impressive debut
Alexander Dunne emerged as Rodin’s standout performer, demonstrating race-winning pace from the 2025 season opener in what was his first year in F2. The Irishman remained competitive throughout the campaign, inserting himself into the championship fight even as circumstances conspired against him.
His eventual fifth-place finish in the 2025 F2 drivers’ standings, much like the Rodin’s seventh position, fails to fully capture the quality of his performances. Particularly painful were incidents at Spielberg, where a post-race disqualification stripped him of a second-place finish, and the aforementioned Spa penalty—blows that significantly dented what was otherwise an impressive debut season.
For Huntingford, Dunne’s speed came as little surprise. “I wouldn’t say it was a surprise. He didn’t have the year he wanted in F3 but throughout his whole junior career, it’s been clear the speed is there. He got to grips with the F2 car quite quickly,” the sporting director noted.
The learning curve proved remarkably short. “It was clear by the second race – really the first race after Melbourne – he was straight on the pace. It was promising right from those pre-season tests.”
Huntingford acknowledged the inevitable growing pains of a rookie campaign whilst praising Dunne’s adaptation. “There’s always that element when it’s your first season that there’s lots to learn, things you have to learn on the F2 car that you don’t have to in the lower categories that you need to get to grips with. He’s done a really good job of that. Hopefully, going into next year, those small issues that we have had are behind us.”
2026: Evolution, not revolution
As Rodin Motorsport prepares for the 2026 F2 season, the approach is one of refinement rather than wholesale change. The team’s strong underlying pace throughout 2025 has convinced the leadership that their fundamental direction is sound.
“I think we’ve got to look back at what didn’t go our way and what we didn’t maximise in the way we could have done. We’ve had the pace to be a lot nearer the front than the results actually show,” Huntingford explained.
Rather than tearing up their playbook, Rodin intends to build on what has already proven effective. “As a team, I think going into next year it’s just a case of carrying on doing what we’re doing and appreciating that some of the stuff was out of our hands, and we shouldn’t try and change everything we do based on this year’s results. But we want to be a step closer to the front.”
A strong driver line-up
The driver line-up for 2026 offers further cause for optimism. Dunne returns for a second campaign, bringing the experience gained from his competitive rookie year. He will be joined by Martinius Stenshorne, who impressed during several cameo appearances towards the end of the 2025 season.
Huntingford believes the pieces are now in place for a step forward. “We have our two drivers for next year and they’re going to be a big factor for next year. They’re also good friends which is helping the atmosphere within the team, which is great. Hopefully it’ll stay that way but they’re already working well together and pushing each other on.”
