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BWT Alpine Formula One Team continues to strengthen its young driver programme. The French team officially confirmed on March 4, 2026 the arrival of Alex Dunne within the Alpine Academy. At twenty years old, the Irishman is preparing to contest his second season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Rodin Motorsport, now carrying the colours of the French manufacturer.
Originally from Clonbullogue, in County Offaly, Ireland, Alex Dunne joins a development programme that remains a key pillar of Alpine’s strategy to prepare for the future. The Rodin Motorsport entry will carry an Alpine livery from the opening round of the season, scheduled next month as a support event to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
After a solid first campaign in Formula 1’s main feeder series, the Irish driver arrives at Alpine with a clear ambition: turn the speed shown in 2025 into a genuine title challenge.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team
At BWT Alpine Formula One Team, the young driver pathway is far more than a communication tool. Since the Renault F1 Team era, the Enstone-based squad has consistently relied on driver development to prepare for the future, in a paddock where the battle for talent starts earlier every year.
Alex Dunne’s career path fits perfectly within this philosophy.
Trained in Ireland, he began karting at the age of eight before quickly standing out in European competitions. In 2019, he won the WSK Champions Cup in the OK-J category, a victory that truly marked his emergence on the international stage.
The move to single-seaters quickly confirmed his potential. In 2022, Dunne dominated the British Formula 4 Championship with eleven victories and secured the title with Hitech Grand Prix. The same year, he finished runner-up in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, one of the most competitive series in the discipline.
His progression continued in GB3, where he finished runner-up in 2023 after several notable victories. In 2024, he stepped up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship before making the next move to Formula 2 in 2025.
In his first season in the category, the Irishman quickly made an impression. Two victories, two pole positions and eight podium finishes allowed him to secure fifth place in the championship. A solid result for a rookie, but above all a season marked by consistent pace against already experienced drivers.
At the same time, he also discovered Formula 1 by taking part in two Free Practice 1 sessions with McLaren, the reigning world champion team.
For Alpine, the objective is therefore clear: bring in a driver who is already fast and capable of fighting for the title in just his second Formula 2 season.
A pivotal season in Formula 2
The 2026 campaign is shaping up to be particularly competitive. On the Formula 2 grid, Alex Dunne will face several established drivers as well as other members of the Alpine Academy, including Gabriele Minì and Kush Maini.
The mission may seem simple on paper: turn the speed displayed in 2025 into consistency across the entire championship.
While the Irishman has shown he knows how to win, his first season in the category was also marked by more difficult weekends. Between on-track incidents and a disqualification in Austria for a technical infringement, the 2025 season also reminded him how unforgiving Formula 2 can be.
That experience could nevertheless prove valuable.
In a championship known for its depth and unpredictable races, the drivers who can bounce back quickly are often those who emerge at the end of the season. That is precisely what the Alpine Academy hopes to see in 2026.
They said
Alex Dunne :
“I am very happy to join the Alpine Academy and take another step forward in my career. I am extremely grateful to the team for placing its trust in me to represent its colours and the brand on the international stage in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
This category has established itself as the ideal environment for young drivers to progress towards professionalism. After being competitive in 2025, the objective this year is naturally to fight for the title. Last year was a fantastic experience in many ways.
I learned a lot, I improved a lot and I also had to face challenges, but all of that helped me become a better driver and a better person. I will give everything for Alpine as a driver of the Alpine Academy.
It would be great to reward the team’s trust with victories and podiums, and I am looking forward to working with everyone in this new chapter of my career.”
Flavio Briatore :
“We are delighted to welcome Alex as a member of our Alpine Academy. His performances in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and his Formula 1 Free Practice sessions last year were impressive.
He is clearly a very talented young driver with remarkable speed. We have a pool of talented drivers in Formula 2 with Gabriele Minì and Kush Maini.
We look forward to seeing all three of them competing this year in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where the objective is clear: to win the drivers’ title.”
A bet on the future
For BWT Alpine Formula One Team, Alex Dunne’s arrival fits into a broader vision: strengthening a programme capable of supplying the team with talent in the years to come.
Formula 2 will once again act as the ultimate proving ground. If the Irishman confirms the pace shown during his rookie season, he could quickly establish himself as one of the names to watch within Alpine’s driver development pathway.
And in a paddock where careers can accelerate very quickly, a successful season could change many things.
Source : BWT Alpine Formula One Team
