Red Bull send clear message as talks confirmed

Helmut Marko has labelled Alex Dunne "very like a Red Bull driver" in the wake of the Irishman suddenly leaving the McLaren driver development programme.

Despite having impressed during his free practice outings for the Woking-based squad in F1 this season, the current F2 driver and the papaya outfit mutually agreed to part ways, as announced by the team on media day at the Singapore Grand Prix.

In a statement, the constructors' champions said: "McLaren Racing has ended its contract with McLaren Driver Development Programme member Alex Dunne.

"It has been a pleasure to work with Alex over the last year and to have been able to contribute to his success and growth as a driver through the McLaren Driver Development programme. 

"Alex will be released with immediate effect. We wish Alex all the best for his career going forward."

RacingNews365 understands that the two parties were not aligned on the direction of the 19-year-old's future in racing.

It was later reported that Dunne was close to joining the Red Bull driver academy, speculation that has been strengthened by Marko confirming the Milton Keynes team is in discussions with the driver.

Speaking to the BBC, the 82-year-old said: "We're in discussions, now that he's free. He's very aggressive, fast and has good car control.

"He's making lots of mistakes as well, at the moment. But he's very like a Red Bull driver."

Over the Italian Grand Prix weekend, it was rumoured that preliminary talks between the six-time constructors' champions and Dunne had taken place, as it looks to sure up its driver line-up for 2026.

Fellow F2 driver Arvid Lindblad is next in line in the Red Bull academy and is highly regarded by Marko and the team.

However, it is unclear whether the Swedish-British driver will remain in the support paddock next term, with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda vying to stay in a race seat with the Red Bull family, likely at Racing Bulls, as Isack Hadjar is expected to be promoted to the seat alongside Max Verstappen.

As for Dunne, it has been suggested he could be a candidate for the second seat at Alpine, but Flavio Briatore is understood to be considering only Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron as options to partner Pierre Gasly.

It is anticipated that any move to Red Bull would see him compete in F2 again next year.

The Rodin driver is currently fifth in the F2 standings with two rounds remaining in his debut campaign at that level, having amassed two feature race victories and a further five podium finishes across the first 12 weekends of the season.