Alex Dunne Leaves McLaren, Closes in on Alpine F1 Reserve Role

Former McLaren junior driver Alex Dunne has confirmed he left the team's development program of his own volition and is in advanced talks for a 2026 F1 reserve driver role at Alpine. The 20-year-old Irishman made the bold decision, believing it was a necessary step to accelerate his path to a Formula 1 race seat after impressing during his rookie F2 campaign and FP1 outings with McLaren.

Why it matters:

This move highlights the strategic calculations junior drivers must make to reach F1, showcasing Dunne's proactivity in shaping his own career. For Alpine, securing a promising talent like Dunne strengthens their driver pipeline and adds a high-potential option to their roster for the future, while McLaren loses a highly-regarded prospect from its academy.

The details:

• The Alpine Opportunity: Dunne is in lengthy negotiations with Renault executive advisor Flavio Briatore. The deal is expected to combine his 2026 F2 season with reserve and test driver duties for the Alpine F1 team, providing him with crucial Grand Prix weekend exposure.
• Impressive McLaren Stint: Dunne turned heads with two strong FP1 performances in 2025, finishing fourth-fastest in Austria and standing in for Oscar Piastri at Monza. He also logged valuable mileage in McLaren's 2023 car during private tests.
• The Red Bull Door Closes: The move to Alpine comes after a potential link to Red Bull fell through. Despite introductory talks with Dr. Helmut Marko, who praised Dunne's style, the Austrian team ultimately decided he was not an option for their program.
• Super License Hurdle: His 2026 F2 campaign is critical. Dunne narrowly missed out on the top-three finish last season required for the 40 points needed for an FIA Super License, making a strong performance this year non-negotiable for his F1 aspirations.

What's next:

The immediate priority for Dunne is finalizing his agreement with Alpine. Once confirmed, his full focus will shift to the 2026 F2 championship, where he must deliver results to secure his Super License. A successful season combined with his F1 team duties could position him as a strong contender for a future race seat, particularly as teams evaluate their lineups ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.