Why it matters
McLaren's young driver Alex Dunne is set for his second Formula 1 Free Practice 1 (FP1) session at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. This outing is crucial for Dunne's development and for McLaren to fulfill one of its mandatory rookie FP1 sessions for the season.
The details
- Dunne will take over one of the two MCL39 cockpits during the Monza FP1.
- He previously made a strong impression at the Austrian Grand Prix FP1, finishing fourth on the timing sheets, just 0.069 seconds behind Oscar Piastri.
- While McLaren has not officially confirmed which driver will make way, tradition suggests it will be Piastri. Lando Norris stepped aside for Dunne in Austria, and teams typically rotate their drivers for these rookie sessions.
What's next
McLaren is expected to make an official announcement soon regarding whether Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri will yield their seat for Alex Dunne at Monza. This decision will offer a temporary change to the team's usual driver lineup for the critical opening practice session.