Alex Dunne Nears Alpine F1 Reserve Role as 2026 Deal Reaches Final Stages

Alex Dunne is in advanced negotiations with Alpine for a 2026 Formula 1 role, with the Irish driver believed to be a leading candidate for the team’s reserve driver position.

After months of discussions with Red Bull stalled, Dunne shifted his focus to Alpine, where talks have progressed rapidly. The Formula 2 standout is expected to combine a second F2 campaign with a reserve, test, and development role at the Enstone-based squad.

Dunne has reportedly held extensive discussions with Flavio Briatore, Renault’s executive advisor, and the parties are understood to be close to finalizing a contract. Sources suggest that if Dunne had already secured his FIA Super Licence, Alpine would have considered him outright for a 2026 race seat, with the licence uncertainty costing him opportunities elsewhere on the grid.

Dunne narrowly missed out on a top-three finish in the F2 championship after retiring from the Abu Dhabi feature race due to a collision. Alpine has monitored him closely, and while his Super Licence status complicates matters, it is not considered a deal-breaker.

There is also scope for the FIA to grant dispensation based on demonstrated performance, especially given Dunne’s impressive 2025 F2 form and his competitive FP1 outings with McLaren. Regardless of the F1 negotiations, Dunne will continue in Formula 2 with Rodin Motorsport for 2026.

Should a deal be completed and Dunne achieves his Super Licence, he could be positioned to step into an Alpine race seat during 2026 if performance falters. Pierre Gasly remains a dependable midfield scorer, but teammate Franco Colapinto, despite being contracted for 2026, is still finding his footing in F1 and could be vulnerable under the new regulations.

Alpine is expected to retain Paul Aron as a reserve, while Jack Doohan appears set to leave the Briatore-led structure to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Doohan will test with Toyota in Super Formula this week, potentially paving the way for a reserve role at Haas, which has deepening ties with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Doohan’s likely exit opens space for another young talent, setting the stage for Dunne to join Alpine, though formal confirmation is not expected for several weeks.

Dunne had also been in advanced talks with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko, who was eager to sign him following the Irishman’s impressive evaluations. However, internal tension within Red Bull over Marko’s unilateral decisions reportedly derailed progress, leaving Dunne caught in the crossfire.

A graduate of McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in 2024, Dunne scored his first Formula 2 win in Bahrain and remained a leading contender throughout the season, despite setbacks from team errors and on-track incidents.

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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