Alex Dunne builds confidence through Madring chaos to secure front-row start

Alex Dunne will start the Formula 2 Feature Race from the front row after a qualifying session defined by disruption, caution and a late increase in confidence at the new Madring circuit.

The Irish driver described the session as a slow build, with three red flags interrupting the running and forcing the field into a repeated cycle of preparation and restart. The result was a qualifying session in which drivers had to manage not only the circuit’s demands, but also the uncertainty created by limited uninterrupted track time.

The Madring had already attracted criticism before its debut. James Vowles labelled the layout a “car killer”, while 19 red flags during the F3 in-season test raised further concerns. F2 encountered its own share of disorder, including a rush to the line as drivers tried to complete their decisive laps.

Dunne explained that F3 footage offered only limited guidance because the different speeds changed the nature of the corners and the reference points available to drivers.

“Some of us probably used F3 as a reference before we came here,” he said. “But corners that aren’t really corners for them become corners for us because we’re arriving at a much quicker speed.”

Confidence arrived late

The clearest example was Turn 14. Dunne had expected the corner to be straightforward on the simulator, but found that committing to it required a gradual build-up of confidence. He only managed to take it flat on his best lap, during the final push of qualifying.

“It took me that long to kind of build up and get the confidence to do it,” Dunne said. “Overall it was always going to be difficult.”

The red flags also affected the drivers’ approach. At familiar circuits, Dunne said, the field can operate at the limit throughout a session. At the Madring, every stoppage reset that momentum, encouraging a more conservative approach when the track reopened.

“I was probably in most corners always a little bit under the limit just because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” he explained.

Dunne’s second-place start comes during a season in which he has recorded five podiums and numerous top-five finishes, although victory has remained out of reach. He said the package that worked so well last year has not delivered the same results in 2026, leaving him and the team searching for more pace and, at times, forcing them to rethink the car’s setup.

The challenge is documented in F2 Madrid qualifying’s chaotic pole fight, but Dunne is focused on converting his front-row position into a stronger result.

“We can’t go back in time and change what has happened,” he said. “We’re in a good place to challenge for something on Sunday.”