Alpine signs Irish F2 star Alex Dunne to its driver academy

Alpine has officially added 20‑year‑old Irish driver Alex Dunne to its junior academy, positioning the former 2025 F2 rookie as a key contender in the squad’s push for the 2026 Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship. Dunne will race for Rodin Motorsport while working closely with Alpine’s development program, aiming to turn his fifth‑place rookie season into a title challenge.

Why it matters:

Alpine’s focus on a home‑grown talent pool could accelerate a future F1 seat for its prospects and give the team a competitive edge in the feeder series.

The details:

• Dunne finished fifth in his rookie 2025 F2 season, after two FP1 outings with McLaren and a brief stint in Red Bull’s Helmut Marko program.
• Alpine announced his entry into the Alpine Academy for the 2026 season, pairing him with Rodin Motorsport. Dunne said he aims to fight for the Drivers’ Championship.
• The junior line‑up now includes reserve driver Paul Aron (already super‑licence qualified) alongside Kush Maini and Gabriele Mini, with Flavio Briatore stating the goal is to win the 2026 F2 title.

What's next:

If Dunne can convert speed into podiums, Alpine sees him as a strong candidate for a future F1 seat, while the 2026 F2 campaign will be the first full‑season test of the academy’s title‑winning plan.