Alex Dunne has recently spoken about his prospects in Formula 1 as speculation grows around his next move. The McLaren academy driver, only 19 years old, expressed that simply securing a place on the 2026 F1 grid is his immediate goal, reflecting on ongoing rumors linking him to the new Cadillac F1 team.
Following a strong debut season in Formula 2, Dunne’s talent has attracted attention from various F1 teams, notably the American entrant Cadillac expected for 2026. The Irish racer commented on the possibility of driving for Cadillac during a Q&A at Mondello Park’s Carole Nash Historic Festival, emphasizing that his main focus remains on securing a Formula 1 seat regardless of the team.
“The easy answer is: as long as I’m in F1, I don’t really care!” —Alex Dunne, McLaren Academy Driver
When asked about his potential association with McLaren or Cadillac for the following year, Dunne admitted uncertainty but highlighted the importance of success in Formula 2 first. He stated that winning the F2 championship is the best path toward achieving a Formula 1 drive.
“At the minute, my guess is probably as good as everyone else’s. To be honest, at the moment, I’m not really sure. I wish I knew a little bit more. The most important thing is to focus on F2. And I’ve always said that, I think, to give myself the best opportunity of being an F1 driver, the way I’m going to do that, is by winning F2. I think that’s the goal.” —Alex Dunne
Strong Formula 2 Performance Bolsters Dunne’s Reputation
Dunne’s rookie season in Formula 2 has been impressive, reinforcing why his Formula 1 future is under discussion. With two race wins and five podium finishes so far, the Irish driver currently holds fifth place in the driver standings. While consistent, his championship pursuit has been hampered by several race incidents resulting in penalties, including a disqualification at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Despite these setbacks, Dunne’s overall performance has drawn significant attention from team scouts and motorsport commentators, positioning him as a potential talent for the top tier of motorsport.
Upcoming McLaren F1 Test Opportunities Confirmed
In addition to discussing his future race seat prospects, Dunne revealed plans for additional Formula 1 testing with McLaren. Having made his F1 debut during the free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix, he indicated that more FP1 sessions are likely before the end of the 2025 season.
Although Dunne did not specify which Grand Prix would host these tests, he sees them as crucial opportunities to demonstrate his readiness for a full-time Formula 1 role.
“I can say that there is going to be maybe one or two FP1s coming up in the year. They’re a good opportunity to show that I should be in F1, but I think of when I’m going to have a race seat, yeah, I don’t know,” —Alex Dunne
McLaren’s 2026 Line-up and the Challenge for Dunne’s Promotion
Despite Dunne’s strong connection with McLaren, his chances of moving into a race seat with the British team for 2026 appear limited. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are secured by multi-year contracts, leaving no clear vacancy for the young driver. Still, with the ongoing “silly season” of driver transfers and team changes in Formula 1, unexpected opportunities could arise.
As the sport evolves and new teams like Cadillac enter the championship, Dunne’s path to Formula 1 remains open, relying heavily on his continued success in Formula 2 and performance in upcoming McLaren test sessions. His outlook remains grounded in proving his capability on track before his future team is decided.