Alpine has confirmed that 20-year-old Irish Formula 2 racer Alex Dunne has joined the Alpine Academy ahead of the 2026 season. Dunne, who will compete for Rodin Motorsport this year, becomes a full academy member after leaving McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in October.
Last year Dunne took part in two Free Practice 1 sessions for McLaren at the Austrian and Italian Grands Prix, notably posting the fourth-fastest time at Spielberg. Alpine will carry its livery on Dunne’s F2 car when the championship gets under way in Australia.
Dunne enjoyed an impressive debut F2 campaign in 2025, recording two wins, two pole positions and eight podiums on his way to fifth in the standings. With that experience behind him, he has set his sights on the title for 2026.
Reflecting on the move, Dunne said he was pleased to join the Alpine Academy and grateful for the team’s confidence. He stressed that after a competitive 2025 he intends to push for the Drivers’ Championship and repay Alpine with strong results, including wins and podiums.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s Executive Advisor, welcomed Dunne to the academy, highlighting his F2 form and his speed shown during F1 practice outings. Briatore also pointed to Alpine’s robust F2 line-up — which includes Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini — and underlined the team’s clear target for 2026: to win the Drivers’ Championship.