Alpine adds Irish F2 driver Alex Dunne to its Academy

Alpine has officially added 20‑year‑old Irish racer Alex Dunne to its junior programme, confirming his return to the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Rodin Motorsport for the 2026 season. Dunne, who finished fifth in his rookie year and logged two F1 rookie practice sessions with McLaren, will now balance his race calendar with a development role as an Alpine Academy driver.

Why it matters:

Alpine’s driver pipeline depends on nurturing talent that can step into an F1 seat when the chance arises. Dunne’s speed and his F2 and F1 FP1 experience make him a strong candidate for a championship push and a future F1 role.

The details:

• Academy entry – Dunne joins Alpine’s Academy alongside Paul Aron, Kush Maini and Gabriele Mini.
• 2026 F2 seat – He returns to Rodin Motorsport after a fifth‑place finish in 2025.
• Recent experience – Tested a BWT‑pink F2 car and completed two McLaren FP1 sessions in 2025.
• Team outlook – Flavio Briatore praised his “pure, natural speed”; Alpine aims for the 2026 F2 Drivers’ Championship.

What's next:

Dunne aims to fight for the 2026 F2 Drivers’ title, while Alpine watches his progress as part of a pipeline to an F1 seat. Consistent results could see him graduate to the senior team next year.