Alex Dunne was spotted in Alpine colours in the Formula 2 Barcelona pre-season test following his departure from the McLaren Formula 1 development program.
Despite taking part in FP1 sessions and Formula E rookie tests with McLaren, Dunne admitted that the opportunity of becoming an F1 driver with the Papaya team was rapidly declining. Ultimately leading him to look elsewhere.
He told Motorsport Week and other media during F2 press day, “I think my decision to leave McLaren was, you know, I think firstly for me, realistically, anyone that pays close attention to F1 knows Oscar and Lando aren’t going to go anywhere anytime soon.”
Norris and Piastri confirmed their contracts well into 2027 and 2028, assuring that Dunne would be kept out of a full-time seat till then. With both drivers young and unlikely to retire, there’s a chance a McLaren seat won’t be available until much later.
He confirmed this when he said, “I think having a future in becoming an F1 driver with McLaren, I felt like it was becoming less and less possible because Lando and Oscar had just re-signed their contract, and they were going to be there for a few more years.”
Looking for a new academy
Immediately after he departed from McLaren, Dunne was linked with Red Bull amid rumours of Helmut Marko signing him with the Milton Keynes team behind the back of the new leadership.
There were questions over Dunne’s future and potential opportunities for 2026, which were answered when the Irishman was spotted in Alpine livery during pre-season testing in Barcelona.
The Enstone team’s instability in their F1 line-up and willingness to reshuffle the order offer Dunne a higher chance of taking a place on the F1 grid.
Earlier in the winter break, PlanetF1 reported that Dunne’s lack of the necessary 40 Super License points was holding back the deal. Stopping him from becoming a reserve driver.
Alpine is still keen to have the Irishman on side. Confirmation of the move hasn’t yet arrived, but the pink car seen in Barcelona seems to be a sure sign of things to come.
“For me the goal, of course, is to be in F1 and be Formula One world champion. So it was actually my decision, and I felt like it was a change that was needed to pursue my dream of being a Formula One driver, basically.
“I think it was the right one, you know. When we made the decision, I was fully comfortable with it, and I wasn’t worried or had any doubts.”
Dunne noted that with open F1 seats far and few between, it’s vital to position yourself in the best place to take advantage of the ever-changing F1 landscape.
“It’s a little bit of a risk you take, but I think there’s only 22 drivers now in F1. It’s very, very difficult to find your spot. So I think it was one that needed to be made.”
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