SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Alex Dunne stepped into the cockpit of Lando Norris' McLaren as an up-and-coming driver without Formula 1 experience. He left it with proof he can keep up with the very best in F1.
The 19-year-old driver from Ireland took over Norris' car for the first practice Friday ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix and was soon close to matching the pace of championship leader Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren.
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Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland in action during the first free practice at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
McLaren driver Alexander Dunne of Ireland, centre, walks through the paddock at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, in Spielberg, Austria, Thursday, June 26, 2025, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland leaves the pit lane during the first free practice at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland prepares for the first free practice at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
“I want to say a massive thank you. A little boy's dream came true,” Dunne told the McLaren team over the radio. “This is definitely the best day of my life, so thank you everyone for letting me do this. And thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car."
Dunne set the fourth-fastest time of anyone in the session, 0.224 of a second off George Russell's quickest lap, and was especially quick in the Austrian track's fastest corners.
Dunne was .159 off the pace of defending champion Max Verstappen, .069 off Piastri, and .333 quicker than seven-time champ Lewis Hamilton.
The 19-year-old Dunne has risen fast through the junior series and is the standings leader in Formula 2. He's also done private testing in a 2023-specification McLaren and used the team's simulator.
Dunne became the first Irish driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend for 22 years, since Ralph Firman raced one season for Jordan in 2003.
F1 teams are required to give young drivers an opportunity in four Friday practice sessions per year, but they usually need more time to adapt than Dunne did.
Another F2 driver was behind the wheel Friday as Ferrari handed Charles Leclerc's car to Sweden's Dino Beganovic, who placed 18th.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland in action during the first free practice at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
McLaren driver Alexander Dunne of Ireland, centre, walks through the paddock at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, in Spielberg, Austria, Thursday, June 26, 2025, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland leaves the pit lane during the first free practice at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Mclaren driver Alex Dunne of Ireland prepares for the first free practice at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
MUKUNO, Uganda (AP) — Photos show polling in Uganda’s election as President Yoweri Museveni seeks a seventh term, facing a strong challenge from the musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine. Some polling stations remained closed for up to four hours after the scheduled 7 a.m. start time on Thursday due to “technical challenges,” according to the nation’s electoral commission.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A supporter of leading opposition candidate Bobi Wine cheers while watching election officials count ballots, after polls closed at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters wait to cast their ballots during the presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, center left, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), shows the ink on his finger after casting his vote, during the presidential election at a polling station, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A supporter of Uganda's President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni reacts during a campaign rally in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
A supporter of Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, holds onto a campaign poster in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station, during the presidential election, in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A man casts his vote at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, right, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
Security forces guard a ballot box at a polling station as voters wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Traffic police officers sit in front of campaign posters of President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, during the general election, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A woman casts her vote during the presidential election at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters line up to cast their ballots during the presidential election at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), casts his vote during the presidential election at a polling station, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine waves to supporters at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine waves to supporters at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Supporters of Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine are tear-gassed by police during a campaign rally ahead of elections, in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Supporters of Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is known as Bobi Wine attend an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is known as Bobi Wine waves to supporters at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Supporters of Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is known as Bobi Wine are tear-gassed by police during a campaign rally ahead of elections, in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Ugandan security forces patrol a street during a campaign rally for opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine, ahead of elections, in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine arrives at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine travels in a convoy with supporters to attend an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Supporters of Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine attend an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who is known as Bobi Wine waves to supporters at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
