A few days before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, with the green light on the Formula 1 world championship and other championships such as Formula 2 and Formula 3, theAlpine announced the entry into its own Academy of a driver already known in the Circus: he is the 20 year old Irishman Alex Dunnewho will split his commitments in the French team and in Rodin Motorsport, the team with which he will contest his second consecutive season in F2.
The past at McLaren
Dunne will thus be part of the young drivers program of the French manufacturer, joining two Italians such as Nicola Lacorte and Gabriele Minì. Winner of the British F4 in 2022, the Irishman was included in the McLaren Young Driver Program in 2024, achieving surprising results in the two FP1s in which he took part in Austria and Monza the following year. However, for reasons never clarified, the relationship with the Woking team suddenly ended last October.
The first statements
Winner of two races and on the podium on six other occasions last season, Dunne commented on his move to Alpine as follows: “I am truly delighted to be joining the Alpine Academy and taking this next step in my racing career. I am very grateful for the trust the team has placed in me, which will allow me to represent the team and the brand on the world stage in FIA Formula 2, which has proven to be the ideal context for young drivers to progress towards professional roles. Of course, after a competitive season in 2025, this year’s goal is to fight for the Drivers’ Championship. Last year was a fantastic experience on many fronts. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve gained a lot, I’ve faced some challenges along the way, but it’s all made me a better rider, a better person, and my goal is to give my all for Alpine and give my all as an Alpine Academy rider. It would be fantastic to reward the team for the trust placed in me with victories and podiums and I’m excited to work together with everyone in this next chapter of my career.”
The new member of the Academy was welcomed by the‘Executive Advisor of Alpine, Flavio Briatore: “We are delighted to welcome Alex to Alpine as a member of our Academy. His performances in FIA Formula 2 and also his Formula 1 practice sessions last year were impressive and he is clearly a very talented young driver with pure, natural speed. We have a talented team of drivers in Formula 2 with Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini. We look forward to seeing them compete in FIA Formula 2 in 2026, where the objective is very clear: to win the Drivers’ Championship“.
