Irishman Alex Dunne could be in line for Formula 1 move for 2026
The 19-year-old Offaly man has been a revelation this year in Formula 2 as he's won two races so far, with wins in Bahrain and Monza.
He did actually win the feature race at Spa in the Belgian Grand Prix, but a penalty post-race took the win off Dunne. He currently sits in fifth place in the Driver's standings, only 30 points off the leader, Leonardo Fornaroli. Alex Dunne. Pic: James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images
Dunne is currently a part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme and has been in an F1 car recently in the first practice session for McLaren at the Austrian Grand Prix. However, rumours are circulating that he could become a permanent fixture in a F1 car next season.
Cadillac is set to become the 11th F1 team next season as the grid is set to be the biggest it's been since 2016. With that, it means two new driver spots need to be filled, and GPBlog are reporting that Alex Dunne is the man they want.
The new US-based team have also been linked with experienced drivers like Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, the latter of which is expected to be confirmed as the first driver for the team soon. But with Dunne's impressive form in F2 puts himself among the top contenders for the seat if Cadillac chooses to go with a younger driver.
It would be a huge step in the history of Irish Formula 1. The last driver to drive under an Irish license was Ralph Firman. The Norwich-born driver drove under an Irish license for his one and only Formula 1 season with Eddie Jordan's Jordan F1 team in 2003. Alexander Dunne. Pic:You have to go back to 1982 for the last Irish-born driver to race in F1. Tommy Byrne of Dundalk raced in five F1 races during the 1982 season for the Theodore team. The last Irish driver to last more than a season is the great Derek Daly, who raced 64 times in F1 with a plethora of teams, including Williams.
Dunne still has a challenge on hand this year, though, and as we now enter the summer break, he and Rodin Motorsports can regroup as they look to claw back the 30 points they need to get Dunne atop of the F2 standings and make history as the first Irish F2 winner.
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