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F1 fans have reacted to Alpine’s signing of Alex Dunne to the team’s driver academy following his exit from McLaren, and they are all in agreement over what it means for Franco Colapinto’s race seat.
Ahead of his second season in Formula 2, Alex Dunne has been announced as the newest member of Alpine’s driver academy following his unexpected exit from the McLaren driver development programme last year.
Helmut Marko had actually signed Alex Dunne to the Red Bull stable during his final months as an advisor to the F1 outfit upon the young Irishman’s confirmed exit from the Woking-based outfit.
However, the Austrian had actually gone behind the backs of his colleagues to confirm the deal, which ended up costing the company thousands after they immediately cancelled it.
Alpine boss Flavio Briatore was reported to have entered into negotiations with Dunne over a role at the time, too, with Marko’s offer later suggested to have been the reason why the deal initially broke down.
What do you expect from Franco Colapinto in the 2026 F1 season?
F1 fans think Alpine signing Alex Dunne spells trouble for Franco Colapinto’s seat
After the news broke on social media, F1 fans were quick to offer their opinion on what Dunne’s addition to the Alpine driver academy means for Franco Colapinto’s future.
Colapinto was identified as one of the drivers who were in danger of losing out to Dunne following his emergence onto the driver market last year, and fans are in agreement that he still isn’t safe.
On X (formerly Twitter), two users are in agreement that it can only mean one thing for Colapinto. One wrote, “Bye-bye, Franco,” while another commented, “Colapinto, savour your last season.”
Another thinks that Dunne can showcase what he would bring to the Alpine F1 team if he can show some good development during the F2 campaign, commenting, “If Colapinto doesn’t make a good step forward, and Dunne is able to iron out his tendencies, he’s going to make it.”
Quite a lot of fans are under the impression that we may see a mid-season driver change within the garages of the Enstone-based outfit.
One Redditor posted, “So Dunne will surely replace Colapinto, maybe even mid-season if Briatore gets tired of the Argentine,” while another said, “I think Colapinto is getting replaced by Dunne mid-season, mark my words.”
It must be said that a mid-season switch is highly unlikely, due to the fact that Dunne currently doesn’t hold enough Super Licence points to be handed a full-time drive in F1.
However, a string of FP1 appearances, as well as a strong season in F2, would see him accrue enough for a seat next year.
A final fan can see this possibility happening instead. They wrote, “If Colapinto doesn’t perform, he’s gone by the end of this season, if not earlier.”
- READ MORE: Five Formula 2 drivers to watch out for in 2026 including the son of seven-time F1 winner
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Flavio Briatore sets Alex Dunne a ‘very clear’ goal for the 2026 F2 season
Briatore has developed a reputation for his no-nonsense attitude at the helm of a Formula 1 team, and has kicked off Dunne’s tenure at the team by setting him a ‘very clear’ goal for the upcoming term.
In Alpine’s official press release for the move, the Italian said, “We are pleased to welcome Alex to Alpine as a member of our Academy.
“His performances in FIA Formula 2 and also his free practice sessions in Formula 1 last year were impressive and he is clearly a very talented young driver with pure, natural speed.
“We have a talented pool of drivers in Formula 2 with Gabriele Mini and Kush Maini. We look forward to watching the three of them compete in FIA Formula 2 in 2026, where the goal is very clear: to win the drivers’ championship.”
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