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Alpine has officially confirmed Alex Dunne's appointment to its junior driver academy for the 2026 season, cementing the Irish prospect's position within the Enstone-based squad's development pipeline. The 20-year-old will continue his Formula 2 campaign with Rodin Motorsport whilst undertaking a comprehensive development programme as an official Alpine Academy member, positioning himself as a potential future asset for the French manufacturer.
Dunne's move represents a significant milestone in his racing career following a competitive maiden F2 campaign in 2025, where he secured fifth place in the drivers' standings. The confirmation arrives after months of speculation, culminating in his public appearance testing an Alpine-liveried F2 car in BWT's distinctive pink colour scheme during Barcelona's pre-season test.
The path to Alpine has proven neither straightforward nor short for Dunne. Following two rookie Free Practice sessions with McLaren during the 2025 campaign, the Irishman parted ways with the Woking squad in October after determining his route to Formula 1 had stalled. However, a brief opportunity emerged when Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko moved to bring Dunne into the Milton Keynes fold—a proposition that ultimately unraveled amid internal restructuring at the energy drink squad.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine's executive advisor, proved instrumental in securing Dunne's services. Briatore's enthusiasm for the young driver's potential accelerated negotiations throughout the winter window, despite one significant complication: Dunne's FIA Super Licence situation. The Irish driver had not accumulated the required 40 weighting points necessary for eligibility as a full reserve driver, presenting a technical hurdle that negotiations had to navigate.
Despite the Super Licence constraints, Alpine's commitment to Dunne's development remains steadfast. His primary objective for 2026 is unambiguous: fight for the Formula 2 Drivers' Championship, a goal he has publicly declared. Dunne will operate alongside established academy members Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini, competing in a competitive junior grid where championship success could accelerate his pathway toward Formula 1.
Briatore articulated Alpine's confidence in their new signing, praising his "impressive" performances in both F2 and his McLaren FP1 outings, highlighting "pure, natural speed" as a defining characteristic. Dunne now joins reserve driver Paul Aron—the only academy member currently possessing sufficient Super Licence points for F1 eligibility—in representing Alpine's future talent pool.
The confirmation marks a fresh chapter for Dunne, transforming 2026 into a crucial campaign where championship-winning performances could ultimately unlock the F1 opportunity that remains his ultimate objective.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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