Guest Column
Back in familiar form - Alexander Dunne double-header debrief
Feature Race victory at the first time of asking and another podium in the bank already, it has been a great start to Alexander Dunne’s rookie campaign in FIA Formula 2.
The Rodin Motorsport driver currently sits fourth in the Drivers' Championship as the second-highest ranked rookie, just five points adrift of fellow newcomer and Invicta Racing’s Leonardo Fornaroli and 18 points behind leader Richard Verschoor.
It’s a position the Irishman is proud to be in, and he says it gives him a platform to go even better when racing action resumes next month in Imola.
Reflecting on the campaign so far, Dunne says that while he’s happy to have made a positive start, things can always be improved upon.
“It's been a much better start than F3, to say the least. I think it's nice to start the season on a high, because all the way through F3 last year, because the year wasn't really going how I wanted it to, every time I was in the car I kind of felt like I had something to prove.
“So, I was probably pushing a little bit more than what I necessarily needed to and things like that. But it's kind of nice to, in a non-arrogant way, be back to how I felt things used to be through F4 and GB3.
“Most of my career has been relatively strong until the difficult year we had last year. So being strong like this doesn't necessarily feel unusual, but it's just really nice to start the season in a good place.
“I’d say it’s down just executing things a little bit better. And I think my relationship with Rodin as well has been really good from day one in Abu Dhabi last year. I think I've really clicked with everyone in the team, and they seem to understand me. You know?
“It's very important when the team understands the driver and what the driver needs from the car to go quick. And I think they've understood what I need very, very well, and that's helped a lot.
“I don't really feel like anything's majorly different compared to last year. I just feel like everything's been a bit more comfortable, and as a driver, I feel a bit more relaxed, and it seems to be showing in the results as well.
"Naturally as a rookie, there are things I can do better from my side"
“We've been relatively consistent. I've qualified in the top six in the first three rounds, and I think the results have been pretty strong, and we're in a pretty good place in the Championship, even though it's early days. So, I think everything's just clicking a little bit better.
“To have a win in the bag already is really nice. I think technically it's the first Feature Race of the year, because the Feature Race in Melbourne was cancelled. So, to have that so early in what was, realistically, my first experience of a Feature Race, having a pit stop in the race, there were a lot of extra things as a driver to think about and make sure that I didn't mess it up.
“From start to finish, the race was just executed really well. I think the pace on both compounds, the Option and on the Prime was really strong. The pit stop was good. I was happy with my pit entry as well. So, yeah, overall, it was just a really, really strong race and a really nice way to kick off the season.
“Hopefully, if we can continue working like that - naturally as a rookie from my side, there is definitely still a few things that I can do better and that I need to work on. But I think naturally, those things are going to get better with time. So, I think we're in a pretty good place.
“How I feel this year is how I feel I normally am. Everything is what I would describe as the normal Alex.
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“Last year, for the most part, I was always calm in the car. And I felt like there was times during the year where I really was driving very well but little things - I don't like to make excuses, but there were just little things that sometimes didn't go right.
“I could have really strong pace, and something might not quite click in the moment, and then I don't get to show the pace. So just little things like that, that kind of thing dragged on through the year and made it harder than I would have liked.
“This year I just feel much more relaxed in everything. As a driver, in myself, in the car, everything. So far, it's been pretty smooth sailing, to be honest.
“Coming away from the first three rounds, I feel pretty good. I think there's a couple of things that I can do better. I would say, if I was to break it down, in Melbourne and Bahrain, I probably could have done a little bit of a better job of putting my lap together in quali, but the pace was still there and still good enough to start in a very strong position.
“I don't think it's a massive thing, it's just one or two corners that I could put together a little bit better. But generally, I still felt relatively strong. Looking back, in some races, as a driver, my decision making maybe could have been a little bit better, mainly in the Sprint Race in Bahrain, and a little bit in the Feature Race in Jeddah, but I think these are things that will come with time.
“The start of the year has been really strong, having a win and being fourth in the Championship, but at the same time, in one aspect, it's been really strong, and in another aspect, there's still a few things as a driver I can do better. So, if we’ve started off the year this strong, things can improve as well, and that's always a nice place to be.”