Dunne takes another F2 podium and narrows gap to leader

MOVING ON UP: Rodin Motorsport's Alex Dunne after ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. Picture date: Sunday July 6, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire

Irish racer Alex Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) took another podium place in this season's F2 Championship securing the runner-up spot in today's Budapest Sprint Race where the Clonbullogue teenager fought out a thrilling final lap duel with Spain's Josep Maria Marti (Campos Racing). 

Although Dunne remains fourth in the championship, he has narrowed a pre-race 11-point deficit to series leader Leonardo Fornaroli (Invicta Racing) to seven points.

Polesitter Marti made a great start but Dunne was eclipsed by British driver Arvid Lindblad, who made it a Campos Racing 1-2. As the race progressed Lindblad closed on team mate Marti with Dunne third as the top three pulled out a gap over the chasing pack headed by Victor Martins.

Although Lindblad went ahead at Turn 1 on Lap 8, Marti retook the lead on the switchback. Their duel allowed Dunne and Martins to close.

At the beginning of Lap 19, Dunne, who had waited patiently before filling the mirrors of Lindblad, dived inside the Briton at Turn 1 to move into P2. Lindblad then came under pressure from Crawford as Marti and Dunne went 4.7s clear of the pack.

The Safety Car was deployed on Lap 22, to allow Sebastian Montoya's car to be removed from the main straight. When racing resumed Lindblad regained third.

A slight error from Marti at T5 allowed the hard-charging Dunne to within an overtaking manoeuvre as they went wheel-to-wheel on the final sector with Marti just about holding off the rapid Offaly driver as they crossed the finish line just 0.225s apart. Crawford was third.

At the post race press conference Dunne said:"I think Pepe made a bit of a mistake into T5 and I kind of had my hopes up a little bit, hoping that there was an opportunity, but no, I think he defended it pretty well I tried to go around the outside of 13 and there wasn’t quite enough room to make it happen, I think that’s just how it goes that’s racing. It was a fun battle I think I managed my tyres through the race."

On regaining second place, he added: "I felt like that’s something I have always been good at through the year, going in late on the brakes and making those types of moves. I felt like the pace was strong but I think Arvid was kind of pushing quite hard and being stuck in the DRS of Pepe but not quite enough to be able to overtake. To be honest, I got bored of just sitting there saving tyre the whole race so I pushed two laps to try and get close and I saw an opportunity so I just went for it."

Following the conclusion of the race Arvid Lindblad and Luke Browning (who had finished fourth and fifth) both received post-race penalties dropping them to a respective tenth and twelfth. Dunne will start tomorrow's Feature Race from P9.

F2 Championship Positions:

1. L. Fornaroli 127 points.

2. R. Verschoor 125 points.

3. J. Crawford 122 points.

4. A. Dunne 122 points.

5. L. Browning 113 points.

6. A. Marti 96 points.