Alex Dunne: F1’s Next Big Opportunity
Alex Dunne is now a free agent after his shock split from McLaren.
Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
An electrifying young talent has now become a free agent. Alex Dunne and McLaren have parted ways. It has left many people wondering where the Irish star could end up next. There has been a lot of speculation around Red Bull's interest in his services. Could this move add a new element to Red Bull's driver plans?
Alex Dunne
The Irish driver has already made a considerable impression. From starting karting in Ireland to working his way up the junior categories, he has built a steadfast foundation for a prosperous career. His first steps into single-seaters came in the Spanish F4 in 2021. Then, a season later, Dunne became the British F4 champion. Driving for Hitech GP, Dunne was unstoppable, claiming 11 victories and taking the title in commanding fashion. After time in F3, he moved up to F2 for 2025, racing for Rodin Motorsports. Dunne currently sits 5th in the standings with 130 points. He has stood atop the podium twice this season, in Bahrain and at Imola in the feature races. During this season, Dunne also took the F1 world by storm after impressive FP1 outings in Austria and Monza. There seems to be real momentum behind him, which is why it's a shock that McLaren let him go.
Why did McLaren let him go?
Many people may be wondering why McLaren let him go. They already have a young, talented line-up. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have shown they can compete at the front of the grid. The two drivers are young enough to stay dominant for the next decade. Yet this is Formula One, and the winds can change rapidly, especially with new regulations on the horizon. Should Piastri or Norris move on, McLaren's recent track record could tempt a star like Charles Leclerc to don the papaya colours in the future. All of this means that opportunities at the Woking-based outfit could be scarce for Dunne. The rising star could be hunting for a quicker way onto the grid.
On Red Bull's radar
A central talking point in F1 has been Red Bull's driver crisis. Ever since Daniel Ricciardo's departure, Red Bull has struggled to find a partner for Max Verstappen. This season, Red Bull's second driver performance has been inconsistent. After Liam Lawson's two-race stint, Yuki Tsunoda has driven the car. Results have been hard to come by, scoring three times out of 16. Isack Hadjar is the frontrunner to be in the Red Bull in 2026, which means that there could be an opening in the Racing Bulls team. Dunne's fellow F2 competitor, Arvid Lindblad, has been linked to the team. Yet it could be an option to put Dunne in the car in the future.
Dunne's talent burns bright, and if Red Bull backs him, the road to Formula One could open faster than anyone expects.
Curious about who’s behind the content? Check out our About Us page or visit our Join The Team page to get involved.