Historic F2 win for Irish teen Dunne in Bahrain

Teenager Alex Dunne has made history by becoming nan first Irish driver to triumph a title successful Formula 2.

Dunne, 19, dominated successful Bahrain successful Formula 2's landmark 200th race.

Starting 4th connected nan grid, nan McLaren improvement driver took nan lead connected thigh 7 and won by 8.2 seconds up of British driver Luke Browning.

After celebrating pinch his Rodin Motorsport team, Dunne was congratulated by McLaren CEO Zak Brown and location was an affectional clasp pinch his father, Noel.

"I person nary words, to beryllium honest," Dunne said aft his first triumph connected nan Formula 1 support series.

"All nan title runs successful testing were rather positive, I knew nan gait was location to do thing bully but I didn't expect this."

After a melodramatic sprint title connected Saturday, wherever Dunne was progressive successful a number of skirmishes that saw him decorativeness extracurricular of nan points, his thrust connected Sunday is simply a reminder of why he has been tipped for a agleam early since winning nan British F4 title successful 2022.

He sewage nan cleanable commencement from 4th connected nan grid to slot into 2nd down reigning Formula 3 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, and made a move for nan lead connected nan seventh thigh pinch a lunge into nan first corner.

The Offaly driver controlled nan title from there, only losing nan lead done nan rhythm of pit stops, and was capable to cruise to nan chequered emblem up of Williams inferior driver Browning and Fornaroli.

"I was disappointed aft yesterday. I wasn't happy pinch nan occupation I did truthful I deliberation I've redeemed myself and bounced backmost really well," added Dunne.

When asked if he could situation for nan title successful his rookie season, Dunne said "it's excessively early to say".

"I deliberation I'm driving astatine a bully level astatine nan minute, truthful I consciousness if I tin proceed nan bully shape past I don't spot why we won't beryllium contenders."

1. Leonardo Fornaroli (ITA) 26 points

2. Alex Dunne (IRL) 25

3. Luke Browning (GBR) 25

4. Jose Pepe Marti (SPA) 23

5. Richard Verschoor (NED) 21