In a significant Formula 1 development, highly-rated Irish driver Alex Dunne has left McLaren’s development programme and is closing in on a deal with rivals Red Bull.
The 19-year-old Formula 2 star, who impressed during two F1 practice outings with McLaren this season—including a P4 finish on debut in Austria, confirmed the mutual split on social media.
The move is seen as a strategic step for Dunne, whose path to a race seat at world champions McLaren was blocked by the long-term contracts of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
If the deal is signed, Dunne would join the Red Bull driver programme with a clear target: a potential graduation to their second team, Racing Bulls, in 2027. This follows the collapse of earlier talks with Alpine.
Red Bull acknowledged Dunne as a “talented driver,” though they would not comment on the signing before it is finalised.
Dunne, who has two F2 race wins this year, thanked his former team, saying the chance to drive an F1 car for McLaren is something he will “always hold very close to my heart.”
