McLaren confirmed on Thursday that Alex Dunne has left their younger driver programme amid hypothesis that the Irish System 2 driver is being eyed up by their F1 rivals
Alex Dunne’s rise to prominence has mirrored that of his now former employer. “My announcement for being part of McLaren was the week after Lando received in Miami,” he advised Mirror Sport with a smile earlier this yr, following his first System 2 victory.
That was the long-awaited first System 1 race victory for Lando Norris, secured in Might 2024. For the reason that, the group’s trajectory has continued to be an upward one, profitable the constructors’ title on the ultimate day final yr earlier than cantering to what is going to absolutely be one other such success this season.
The draw back has been that Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri are each younger and performing so properly that, to beat back any curiosity from rivals, McLaren have tied each all the way down to profitable long-term contracts. And which means there isn’t any room for Dunne to make any additional progress there, resulting in the announcement that the Irishman has been launched from their programme.
Dunne has recognized for a very long time that his possibilities of rising to F1 whereas remaining throughout the McLaren secure have been slim. Even earlier than he had made the 2 FP1 appearances that thrust him additional into the highlight, he had admitted to Mirror Sport that he knew there most likely was not going to be a gap there for him.
He stated: “Oscar has simply prolonged his contract – Lando, I am not likely certain how it’s for him, however I believe realistically, should you take a look at how properly they are going, I’d assume they will be there for fairly some time.”
Dunne went on to make it clear that it might be “a dream come true” if he have been to search out himself promoted into F1 with McLaren, however hinted even then that he could be open to wanting elsewhere by including: “If this yr goes actually robust and I’m form of knocking on the door of F1, then we’ll simply have to attend and see what occur.”
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Protected to say he’s certainly knocking on the door of F1, regardless of his F2 title problem having light in latest weeks. Dunne led the championship for a time earlier this yr, however his function race victory at Imola in Might stays his most up-to-date victory and simply six factors scored throughout the final two race weekends, together with a clean at Monza, have seen him drop out of real looking rivalry.
Dunne is 58 factors adrift of championship chief Leonardo Fornaroli with simply two rounds to go. However the greater image is extra about what subsequent yr may maintain and, now that he’s now not tied to McLaren, the possibilities of the Irishman touchdown a spot on the 2026 F1 grid could have elevated.
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As a result of though Crimson Bull have been watching his progress with curiosity, the actual fact he was affiliated with one among their direct rivals offered a big stumbling block. Now that he has been allowed by McLaren to depart, he’s instantly a free agent who has already demonstrated admirable talent behind the wheel of an F1 automobile.
Gabriel Bortoleto left the McLaren programme final yr having landed a multi-year contract with Audi. “I am certain he was the identical method, I am certain he would have liked to race for McLaren, however sadly with simply the timing there was no seat out there and he had a suggestion elsewhere which he needed to take,” Dunne stated of the Brazilian.
He could but discover himself racing towards Bortoleto quickly.
