Irish racing prodigy Alex Dunne has clarified that his departure from the McLaren junior programme in October 2025 was his own choice. Speaking to Balls.ie, the 20-year-old said it was his decision to ensure he has a clear path towards his ultimate goal of becoming a Formula One driver.
Dunne explained that he walked away because he wanted to avoid spending 2026 on the sidelines while McLaren's current F1 seats are locked down. Although his father was initially hesitant, Dunne felt 'more than comfortable' with the choice, as it was part of a larger plan to reach the top flight.
Despite leaving the team, Dunne speaks very highly of his time under Zak Brown and the 'pretty special' opportunities he was given. He referenced his successful FP1 debut in Austria, where he was within two tenths of Oscar Piastri's pace, and said: 'I'll always thank McLaren for that opportunity.'
Dunne also praised McLaren's main drivers, Lando Norris and Piastri, describing them as 'normal people' who are simply on television more often than others. He noted that seeing how they approach a race weekend was 'pretty cool' and provided invaluable lessons for his own career.
At the time of his McLaren exit, Dunne was heavily linked with Red Bull, but a switch to Helmut Marko's youth stable never materialised. He has also been linked with Alpine, who will be looking for alternative options as they assess Franco Colapinto's long-term future in 2026.
Now preparing for his sophomore F2 campaign with Rodin Motorsport in 2026, Dunne is focused on capturing the championship title. Being unattached to a specific F1 junior programme may allow him more flexibility to negotiate with various teams as the 2027 driver market begins to take shape.
