Alex Dunne’s chances of winning the Formula 2 World Championship are going up in smoke after a poor weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Hungarian track, celebrating its 40th anniversary of hosting F1 races didn’t do the Offaly driver any favours, as he qualified 17th in Friday’s timed session, following that up with a poor showing in Saturday’s sprint race, coming home in 19th place, nearly 40 seconds behind winner Gabriele Mini. In Sunday’s feature race, it was a better showing, but not enough for a points paying position; Dunne had to settle for 11th, finishing under a second behind John Bennett, capping off a miserable weekend for the Irishman. The weekend in Hungary was the first time this season Dunne hasn’t scored points in at least one race during the weekend, and it’s set his chances of winning the title in his sophomore season back significantly, as Nikola Tsolov now holds a 59 point lead over him with five race weekends to come. Tsolov’s closest competitor for the crown now is Gabriele Mini, who sits 20 points behind the Bulgarian. In a post on social media after the weekend, Dunne said:
Not the result we wanted, was always going to be a difficult weekend after quali,
while also adding that the summer break for F1, F2 and F3 is “much needed.” F2 returns to action during the first weekend of September, with the Italian Grand Prix; a race where Dunne struggled in 2025. With five races left, Dunne’s position is precarious in relation to winning the title, but a good run-in, starting at Monza could reap many rewards for the young Irishman in future.
