Stepping up to Formula 2 would be 'really nice' - Dunne

Alex Dunne secured two podiums in his first season in Formula 3

Irish racing driver Alex Dunne says it would be "really nice" if he got the opportunity to race in Formula 2 in 2025 as he continues to target a career in Formula 1.

Dunne's maiden Formula 3 campaign came to a close at Monza as the 18-year-old secured his second podium of the season at the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

He finished second at Barcelona in May and was 14th in the standings as his flashes of front-running pace were mixed with misfortune in the 10-round campaign.

The 2022 British F4 champion had his potential recognised when he was signed as a development driver by McLaren's Formula 1 team mid-season.

Despite saying the "natural trajectory" would see him move one step closer to Formula 1 by stepping up to Formula 2, he would be "pretty happy either way" if he spent a second season racing in Formula 3 to continue his development.

"I'm still not sure at the moment. I'd be pretty happy either way," Dunne told BBC Sport NI about his plans for 2025.

"As a driver, that's probably what I want the most - to get the opportunity to do F2 and be that one step closer to F1.

"But we have to wait and see where the opportunities are and what could be put together."

'To finish on a high was nice'

Dunne finished second in the sprint race in Barcelona

Dunne had made a name for himself by dominating the British F4 title win in 2022 and he finished second in the GB3 championship the following year before an impressive debut at the Macau Grand Prix.

However, he had to wait for a deal to come together and he was one of the last drivers confirmed on the 30-car Formula 3 grid when he joined MP Motorsport.

As well as his podiums, the Irish driver had his fair share of misfortune as he made his debut on the Formula 1 support package.

In Australia, the second round, he was pushed into the wall by another driver in practice and, after placing in fifth, Dunne was disqualified from qualifying at Imola which meant he had to the start from the back in both races.

At Monaco, he was set for a strong lap time in qualifying but a red flag put him towards the back of the grid and he was hampered in both qualifying and races at Silverstone.

"Coming off the back of two-and-a-half years of being fairly successful in cars and fighting for poles, wins and titles in whatever series I was racing in, to come into this year and have things go wrong more consistently than I would have liked, that can be quite difficult," said Dunne.

"Pretty much the whole year I felt the pace was there to be at the front. I never felt like I was struggling to be on pace in qualifying and the race.

"I knew once it all came together then the weekend would be good. Every time I felt like there was not any issues or the weekend came together, the results were what I expected."

Despite the difficult moments, Dunne was able to show his potential and he secured his first Formula 3 podium in Barcelona then ended the season on a high with a strong weekend at Monza when he finished third in the sprint race before a fourth in the season's final race.

"It was a difficult season but Monza was positive. To finish on a high was nice.

"I'm a typical racing driver, I probably don't really hold onto the high points as much as I should.

"It was nice to have those two good weekends, but at the same time I want all 10 weekends to be as close to perfection as possible.

"Having more of those results would have been nice, but it was reassuring when everything went well and it shows the results were possible."

McLaren deal 'very special'

Dunne was signed to McLaren in May and says being associated with the current leaders in Formula 1's constructors' championship "means a lot".

"I was never around to watch [three-time Formula 1 champion Ayrton] Senna race, but to see all the old races, the Senna movie or the history of McLaren - it is one of those teams you dream to be apart of.

"When I got the opportunity to be part of McLaren it was very special."

While a lot of drivers are picked up by teams early in their karting careers, Dunne had to be patient and wait for the opportunity.

The Offaly driver says he always hoped he would be spotted by a Formula 1 team and the fact he had to wait for the opportunity made it all the more special.

"How hard we had to work and wait for it made it that little bit extra special," said Dunne.

"I think we're lucky to have made it this far already, so to have the opportunity with McLaren tops it all off."

Dunne receives support from McLaren on race weekends as well with extra fitness and simulator training

McLaren, who won Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix through Lando Norris, assist Dunne with fitness, training with the simulator and support on race weekends.

Dunne added that having the support of McLaren was beneficial throughout the F3 season, particularity when misfortune hit outside of his control.

"The nice thing about having people from McLaren with me on race weekends is if something out of my control happens and the result isn't as it should be, then they are there to see what happened wasn't in my control.

"It's not like it's me making a mistake or not doing a good enough job. They are there to have a look through the data, so having people there is nice.

"It's reassuring and they do help a lot.

"Being around them is cool, and having McLaren as well. To see how professional everything is in a Formula 1 team is quite cool."