Former McLaren junior Alex Dunne is reportedly in talks with Alpine regarding a switch to the Enstone-based squad and a role in its Formula 1 team for next year.
The Irishman left McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in October, having taken part in two F1 FP1 sessions in Austria and Italy, respectively.
During that time, the 20-year-old was somewhat in hibernation, given the long gap between F2 rounds, in which he eventually finished fifth in the Drivers’ standings.
Dunne was the subject of strong speculation that he was set for a move to Red Bull, but the Milton Keynes outfit ruled out the possibility.
Recent reports indicated that senior advisor Helmut Marko – thought to be leaving at the end of the year – made an arbitrary decision to sign Dunne, which was blocked by Red Bull.
But now, according to a report by PlanetF1, Dunne has met with Alpine‘s Executive Advisor and interim Team Principal Flavio Briatore, with initial talks going well.
It is understood that the team would deploy Dunne as a reserve and development driver, alongside a second year in F2 with his current team, Rodin Motorsport.
Alpine is said to be unfazed by the possibility of Dunne failing to secure a Super Licence, which would have been managed had he finished the F2 campaign in the top three.
But Briatore is still keen to sign up the Offaly-born talent, with a possibility still remaining that the licence could be obtained by the results he scored over the year.
With Alpine confirming its 2026 line-up late, with Franco Colapinto joining Pierre Gasly full-time, there appears to be, at long last, a sense of stability for the team ahead of the new campaign, in which it will be a Mercedes customer squad.
But if Dunne is able to earn his Super Licence, it might be the case that he could be waiting in the wings to replace the Argentinian if he is unable to match his French team-mate, in the way he replaced Jack Doohan at the start of 2025.
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