Prospect who was 0.069s behind Oscar Piastri “deserves a spot in F1”

David Coulthard has thrown his weight behind an F1 hopeful who he insists deserves a race seat.

McLaren driver Alex Dunne, from Eire, impressed vastly when he drove in a follow session on the F1 Austrian Grand Prix.

In Lando Norris’ automobile, Dunne was simply 0.069s behind Oscar Piastri, the F1 drivers’ championship chief. Dunne was fourth in that session, his debut within the prime collection.

“I do know he’s the true deal. I do know that he’s tremendous spectacular,” Coulthard advised the Indo Sport podcast.

“I do know that he has caught the eye – not solely of McLaren, for whom he is part of their programme – however of different individuals in te sport.

“He has acquired an edge to him. It’s thrilling.

“He deserves a spot in Formulation 1.

“You get one alternative in Formulation 1, fairly often, to make an impression. And he made an impression.”

McLaren urged to ‘mortgage’ Alex Dunne out

Dunne, aged 19, is racing in Formulation 2 this season and sits fifth within the championship on the summer season break stage.

He gained races in Bahrain and Imola earlier than impressing in a McLaren F1 automobile.

His tempo in FP1 on the Austrian Grand Prix in June was so sizzling that Karun Chandhok thought he needs to be thought-about for a Cadillac race seat in 2026.

“If I used to be Cadillac, I’d signal one skilled driver which leaves Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez as those with latest expertise,” Chandhok mentioned.

“Then I’d go for one younger hotshot – an Alex Dunne or a Felipe Drugovich or a Fred Vesti.”

McLaren won’t need to let their younger star go.

Chandhok theorised that they may ‘mortgage him out’ for a 2026 race seat elsewhere whereas additionally maintaining him of their long-term plans.

“Based mostly on the whole lot he is proven – he is main the F2 championship, they’ve seen potential in testing, and we’re now seeing it publicly,” Chandhok mentioned.

“You need to discover him a seat someplace to construct up some racing expertise. I would be attempting to get him a deal someplace else for a time period.

“Farm him out, have him on some type of tether that they will pull him again in, in the best way Mercedes did with George Russell previously.”