F1: Dunne joins Alpine Academy

Alpine has confirmed that Alex Dunne has signed with its Academy because the Irishman embarks on a second season in F2 with Rodin Motorsport.

The 20-year-old from Clonbullogue, Republic of Eire, turns into a fully-fledged member of the Alpine Academy, the workforce’s younger driver programme, which goals to progress driving expertise into the realms {of professional} motorsport.

Dunne will sport an Alpine livery on his Rodin Motorsport automotive because the Formulation 2 season begins with the season opener in Australia on the Formulation One undercard.

Dunne started his profession karting in his native Eire, earlier than coming into the European and World stage, successful the 2019 WSK Champions Cup within the OK-J class. Stepping as much as single seaters, Dunne gained the 2022 F4 British Championship after successful 11 races and completed second within the Italian F4 Championship the identical 12 months. The next season, he completed runner-up within the 2023 GB3 Championship, earlier than a debut marketing campaign in FIA Formulation 3 in 2024. In 2025, Dunne progressed to FIA Formulation 2, catching the attention with two wins, two pole positions and eight podiums general on his technique to fifth place within the Championship. Throughout the season, he sampled Formulation One equipment for the primary time, after collaborating in two Free Observe 1 classes with present world champions, McLaren.

“I’m actually comfortable to be becoming a member of the Alpine Academy and making this subsequent step in my racing profession,” stated Dunne. “I’m very grateful for the belief the workforce has in me to characterize the workforce and the model on the worldwide stage in FIA Formulation 2, which has confirmed to be the right place to progress younger drivers into skilled racing roles. Naturally, after a aggressive season in 2025, the purpose this 12 months is to battle for the Drivers’ Championship. Final 12 months was an ideal expertise on many fronts. Heaps realized, heaps gained, some challenges alongside the way in which, however all the pieces has made me a greater driver, a greater particular person, and I purpose to present my all for Alpine and doing my greatest as an Alpine Academy driver. It could be nice to reward the workforce for his or her religion with wins and podiums and I’m excited to work along with everybody on this subsequent chapter of my profession.”

“We’re happy to welcome Alex to Alpine as a member of our Academy,” added Flavio Briator. “His performances in FIA Formulation 2 and in addition his Free Observe classes in Formulation One final 12 months had been spectacular and he’s clearly a really proficient younger driver with pure, pure pace. We have now a proficient pool of drivers in Formulation 2 with Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini. We stay up for watching the three of them compete in FIA Formulation 2 in 2026 the place the purpose may be very clear: to win the Drivers’ Championship.”