The 19-year-old will step in for Lando Norris on Friday, marking a major milestone in his career and for Irish motorsport.

Dunne, currently leading the Formula 2 championship in his debut season, has already claimed victories in Bahrain and Imola and delivered standout performances across multiple rounds. His impressive form has solidified his role as a development driver for McLaren.

To prepare for his F1 debut, Dunne tested an older Formula 1 car at Zandvoort in May, followed by a second test at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. He has also spent significant time in McLaren’s simulator and tested the MCL6, gaining valuable experience ahead of his first outing in the MCL39.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to drive in FP1 in Austria,” said Dunne. “I’ve prepared well with simulator work and track testing. I’m excited to contribute to the team’s setup for the weekend.”

Dunne will be the first Irish driver to participate in a Grand Prix weekend since Ralph Firman raced under an Irish license for Jordan in 2003. The last Irish-born driver to compete in F1 was Eddie Irvine, who raced for Ferrari and Jaguar from 1993 to 2002.

Formula 1 rules require each team to field young or newcomer drivers in at least two practice sessions per car each season. McLaren has also confirmed Pato O’Ward will run in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Alongside his F1 duties, Dunne will continue his F2 campaign this weekend at the RedBull Ring.