Ex-McLaren Prodigy Alex Dunne Eyes F1 Comeback with Alpine After Red Bull Rejection!
In a dramatic twist of fate, former McLaren junior Alex Dunne is on the brink of a potential signing with a rival Formula 1 team following his unexpected exit from the McLaren fold. The talented 20-year-old Irish racer, who currently holds a promising P5 position in the F2 drivers’ standings, is gearing up for the final showdown in Abu Dhabi, yet finds himself without the backing of an F1 team—a stark contrast to the beginning of the season when he proudly represented McLaren.
Dunne’s journey with the McLaren driver development programme began in May 2024, which saw him stepping into the cockpit of McLaren’s cutting-edge F1 machinery during practice sessions at the Austrian and Italian Grand Prix in 2025. However, in a shocking turn of events this past October, both Dunne and McLaren announced a “mutual” parting of ways, abruptly ending his role in fulfilling the team’s rookie driver outings in FP1 and racing in McLaren colors in F2.
The rumor mill began churning almost immediately after his mid-season departure, with whispers of interest from Red Bull swirling around the paddock. Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko appeared keen on securing Dunne’s talents. However, a recent report has thrown a wrench into those plans, indicating that while Marko was on board, other influential figures within Red Bull were not as enthusiastic about bringing Dunne into the fold.
As Red Bull gears up for the future, they confirmed that Isack Hadjar will be stepping up to partner with Max Verstappen in 2026. This development theoretically opens a door for Dunne within Red Bull’s talent pipeline. But team principal Laurent Mekies has dashed those hopes, confirming that Dunne does not feature in their roadmap.
Enter Alpine, a team that could be the game-changer for Dunne’s ambitions. Recent reports highlight that Alpine is now in discussions with the ex-McLaren driver regarding a role in their driver development programme. This new opportunity could see Dunne aligning with former F2 standout Paul Aron and a host of other aspiring F1 stars. While an immediate leap to the F1 grid seems unlikely, insiders suggest that Dunne’s ascension could occur sooner than anticipated.
Paul Aron, who last competed in F2 in 2024, has spent 2025 as a reserve and development driver for Alpine. Despite his experience in multiple FP1 sessions, he was overlooked to replace Franco Colapinto in the 2026 lineup. This could indicate that Alpine is actively searching for fresh talent to inject into their squad, especially given the disappointing zero points accumulated by Colapinto since stepping in for Jack Doohan earlier this year.
As the F1 landscape shifts dramatically, all eyes will be on Alex Dunne as he navigates this critical juncture in his racing career. Will he emerge from the shadows of McLaren’s past and seize the opportunity with Alpine? The answer may come sooner than fans expect, as the F1 world waits with bated breath for the next chapter in this young driver’s promising career!









