Alex Dunne close to Red Bull deal as Helmut Marko gives verdict on Irish F1 hopeful

Helmut Marko has confirmed that talks have occurred between Red Bull officials and Alex Dunne. The Irish youngster's deal as a McLaren junior driver was ended prior to the Singapore Grand Prix.

Dunne currently sits fifth in the Formula Two championship with two race weekends left in 2025. The 19-year-old grabbed attention in the Formula One paddock earlier this season in Austria when, making his FP1 debut with McLaren, he clocked a time just marginally behind teammate and current World Championship frontrunner Oscar Piastri.

Despite his impressive practice showing, his chances of graduating from the McLaren junior programme seemed unlikely, with Piastri and Lando Norris both tied down to lengthy deals. Now, Dunne finds himself without an F1 allegiance as he tackles the final rounds of the F2 campaign.

In a statement released on Thursday, McLaren confirmed: "McLaren Racing has ended its contract with McLaren Driver Development Programme member Alex Dunne.

"It has been a pleasure to work with Alex over the last year and to have been able to contribute to his success and growth as a driver through the McLaren Driver Development programme. Alex will be released with immediate effect. We wish Alex all the best for his career going forward."

The choice to let Dunne go sparked considerable debate within the F1 community. Some interpreted the announcement as evidence that he was in negotiations with another F1 outfit.

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This aligns with McLaren's current approach regarding junior drivers, as Gabriel Bortoleto, who secured the 2024 F2 championship as a member of their academy, was freed to secure a permanent drive with Sauber.

Now, Marko has verified that Red Bull are among the teams pursuing Dunne's signature. "We're in discussions, now that he's free," he told BBC Sport. "He's very aggressive, fast and has good car control. He's making lots of mistakes as well, at the moment. But he's very like a Red Bull driver."

Dunne had reportedly been in talks with Alpine, though those discussions have now cooled. Now, Red Bull looks like his best route onto the F1 grid. Should he commit to Marko's squad, he would likely spend a second season in the F2 championship whilst Laurent Mekies' team evaluate their driver conundrum.

At present, the Red Bull driver line-up is experiencing somewhat of a talent logjam. Isack Hadjar remains cautiously hopeful about his prospects of advancement in 2026, whilst Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson have both demonstrated potential with Racing Bulls, only to struggle under the pressure alongside Max Verstappen.

Meanwhile, British teen Arvid Lindblad seems set for a swift move to the Faenza-based sister team in 2026. This is despite the 18-year-old only managing four point-scoring finishes in his last 12 F2 races. It's still unclear where Dunne will fit into this equation.