Alpine signs Alex Dunne to Academy as Irish driver targets Formula 2 title

The 20 year old from Clonbullogue becomes a full member of Alpine’s young driver programme, strengthening the team’s pool of emerging talent as it looks to develop future Formula 1 drivers.

Dunne will carry Alpine colours on his Rodin Motorsport car when the 2026 Formula 2 season begins in Melbourne, supporting the opening round of the Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix.

The move places Dunne alongside Alpine Academy drivers Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini in what the team describes as a strong Formula 2 lineup with clear ambitions for the coming season.

Dunne welcomed the opportunity to join the Enstone based programme as he looks to build on a strong 2025 Formula 2 campaign.

“I am really happy to be joining the Alpine Academy and making this next step in my racing career,” Dunne said. “I am very grateful for the trust the team has in me to represent the team and the brand on the global stage in FIA Formula 2, which has proven to be the perfect place to progress young drivers into professional racing roles.

“Naturally, after a competitive season in 2025, the goal this year is to fight for the Drivers' Championship.

“Last year was a great experience on many fronts. Lots learned, lots gained, some challenges along the way, but everything has made me a better driver, a better person, and I aim to give my all for Alpine and doing my best as an Alpine Academy driver.

“It would be great to reward the team for their faith with wins and podiums and I am excited to work together with everyone in this next chapter of my career.”

Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore said Dunne’s performances in junior categories and his first exposure to Formula 1 machinery had already marked him out as a driver with strong potential.

“We are pleased to welcome Alex to Alpine as a member of our Academy,” Briatore said.

“His performances in FIA Formula 2 and also his Free Practice sessions in Formula 1 last year were impressive and he is clearly a very talented young driver with pure, natural speed.

“We have a talented pool of drivers in Formula 2 with Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini.

“We look forward to watching the three of them compete in FIA Formula 2 in 2026 where the goal is very clear: to win the Drivers' Championship.”

Dunne’s rise through the junior ranks began in karting in Ireland before he moved onto the international stage, winning the 2019 WSK Champions Cup in the OK J category.

His transition to single seaters quickly delivered results. Dunne won the 2022 British F4 Championship with 11 race victories and finished second in the Italian F4 Championship in the same year.

He continued his progress in 2023, finishing runner up in the GB3 Championship before stepping into FIA Formula 3 in 2024.

In 2025 Dunne moved up to Formula 2 and quickly established himself as a contender, scoring 2 wins, 2 pole positions and 8 podium finishes on his way to fifth place in the Drivers' Championship.

The season also brought his first taste of Formula 1 machinery when he took part in 2 Free Practice 1 sessions with McLaren.

Now backed by Alpine’s academy programme, Dunne begins the 2026 campaign aiming to convert that momentum into a title challenge and potentially position himself on the radar for future opportunities in Formula 1.