Dunne Draws Interest From Three F1 Midfield Teams
Alex Dunne has been approached by three Formula One midfield teams with a path to a 2028 seat, according to reports.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Motorsports
Three F1 midfield teams have approached Alex Dunne with a path to a 2028 F1 seat after he left the McLaren young driver program in late 2025 and joined the Alpine academy earlier in 2026. Exploratory talks with Cadillac did not lead to an agreement.
Why it matters
Each of the four candidate teams has at least one seat free from 2028 onwards, opening a potential route to Formula One for the driver. The approaches follow a turbulent period in which Dunne's limited track time at Alpine and contract extensions for Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto led him to leave the team.
Dunne sits 18 points behind F2 leader Rafael Camara and 11 points behind second-place Nikola Tsolov, averaging a finish just below P4 over his last three race weekends. Whether he secures a 2027 testing role or a rival drive has not been finalized.
The players
Alex Dunne
An Irish racing driver from Offaly competing in the F2 championship, who has been linked to F1 seats through the Alpine academy and McLaren's former young driver program.
Alpine
A Formula One team that Dunne joined through its academy earlier in 2026 before parting ways over limited track time.
The details
Dunne left the McLaren young driver program in late 2025 and joined the Alpine academy earlier in 2026, taking part in an IndyCar test in late October. He recently won his first F2 race of the season in Baku, and three midfield teams have since approached him with plans for rigorous F1 testing in 2027.
Timeline
Late 2025: Dunne leaves the McLaren young driver program.
Earlier in 2026: Dunne joins the Alpine academy.
Late October 2026: Dunne takes part in an IndyCar test.
2027: Planned F1 testing for Dunne with the interested teams.
Season Trajectory
Dunne's movement from the McLaren program to the Alpine academy illustrates how drivers in the F2 ranks navigate team pipelines before reaching Formula One. With Formula One midfield teams now circling, his position in the F2 standings could shape how quickly those talks progress.
Fantasy and standings followers should note Dunne's 18-point gap to Camara in the F2 standings, with the final two races scheduled in Qatar and Abu Dhabi and a reported fall-back in Imola. Any team signing announcement would change his 2027 testing schedule.
The takeaway
Driver development pathways in motorsport are increasingly fluid, and Dunne's situation shows that a switch between academy programs can still lead to renewed Formula One interest. Readers following the F2 standings can track how the final rounds shape his prospects.
Further reading
Follow the latest developments in Motorsports coverage for more on drivers chasing Formula One seats.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Balls.
