BREAKING: McLaren announce Alex Dunne exit amid talk of 2026 F1 switch to rival team

Alex Dunne has left the McLaren junior driver programme, the team has announced. The news comes amid strong rumours that the Irish Formula 2 driver could be a target for those who have yet to finalise their Formula 1 driver line-ups for the 2026 season.

Dunne, 19, has emerged this year as a hot prospect in his debut F2 season. He has spent much of the year in the fight for the title, though is now just an outsider with two rounds remaining in the championship having slipped to fifth in the standings and 58 points adrift of leader Leonardo Fornaroli.

But the Irish teenager truly caught the eye during free practice outings with McLaren in an F1 car this year. In particular, during his debut in an F1 sessions, he posted the fourth quickest time in FP1 at the Austrian Grand Prix in June, which alerted many to his talents.

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