Alex Dunne could be setting himself up for a Formula 1 drive in 2026 after Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed his tentative interest in the McLaren junior driver.
With only seven races remaining in the 2025 campaign, eyes have now firmly shifted to the 2026 regulations — and potential re-jigging of the driver market with the upcoming rule changes.
While there aren’t many open seats on offer for next season, the situation at Red Bull might have something to offer for the likes of Dunne, who is looking to fight his way into the paddock.
The Irish racing driver is currently contracted to McLaren’s driver academy and has had a handful of FP1 sessions under his belt to showcase his driving prowess.
In fact, his Austrian GP practice run turned quite a few heads in the paddock after he lapped in proximity to championship leader Oscar Piastri, ending up P4 on his F1 debut.
Marko, who might have a decision to make as Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles in the RB21 continue, was quite candid in admitting that he has been keeping a close eye on Dunne.
When prompted, he admitted that the Milton Keynes-based squad is “always interested in fast and confident drivers, and Dunne is a fast and confident driver.”
As things stand, Isack Hadjar is in pole position to gain a promotion alongside Max Verstappen in 2026 from sister team Racing Bulls.
And while Liam Lawson is set to be retained, an open seat at Racing Bulls is potentially on offer for Dunne, who is suggested to be in tentative contact with Red Bull.
![Alex Dunne has been battling in F2 with Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad [left] this season](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Alex-Dunne-Arvid-Lindblad-Red-Bull-1024x576.webp)
Red Bull talks could be a ploy for Dunne
On paper, Red Bull might seem like a potential destination for Dunne; however, Arvid Lindblad might pose a problem for the Irishman.
Lindblad, a rival of Dunne’s in Formula 2 this season, has been hailed as a successor to Verstappen, per Marko.
Naturally, the Austrian outfit would want to back its own academy driver over Dunne, notwithstanding how talented the 19-year-old might be for the upper echelons of the team’s management.
Dunne sits fifth in the drivers’ standings in F2 — enough for him to secure a superlicense. And the Irishman would want a quick promotion to the pinnacle of single-seater, open-wheel motorsport — keen to avoid the fate of the likes of Felipe Drugovich.
The Woking-based squad also does not have a B-team system like Red Bull, and Piastri and Lando Norris’ long-term contracts might impede Dunne. Naturally, he needs a bargaining chip if he wants to climb the ladder all the way up to F1.
Therefore, it seems that while there might be some substance in rumors linking Dunne with Red Bull, it could be a clever rumor mill trick to push the Irishman’s stock up as he gears up to rub shoulders with the big boys, in the biggest league.
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