Jamie Chadwick pours cold water on Alex Dunne Red Bull F1 links after McLaren exit

Three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick has pointed to a flaw in the rumours linking former McLaren junior driver Alex Dunne to Red Bull.

McLaren announced that the 19-year-old driver had been released from the driver development programme with immediate effect on 2 October 2025, ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. 

“McLaren Racing has ended its contract with McLaren Driver Development Programme member Alex Dunne," a statement from the Woking outfit confirmed.

“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.”

It is understood that Dunne, who is currently competing in Formula 2 for Rodin Motorsport, is in talks with Red Bull. "Alex Dunne is a very fast, aggressive, young driver," Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko told Sky Germany. "That makes him a good fit for Red Bull. And because he's absolutely free now, revoked by mutual agreement with McLaren, that's someone we will talk to for sure."

#18 IDEC Sport Oreca 07 - Gibson: Jamie Chadwick

Photo by: Marc Fleury

This comes as Red Bull's driver line-up for 2026 is not yet confirmed. It is rumoured that Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar will receive a promotion to drive alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year, leaving two seats at the sister team unconfirmed. But Chadwick pointed to the issue of superlicence points for the Irishman.

"He doesn't have a superlicence, and he has to finish in the top three in F2, I think, to get a superlicence," Chadwick explained on the Sky Sports F1 Show. "So although he fits the mould as the character of driver that he is and he's aggressive and he's fast and when you switch on the F2, he's always there and he's always exciting, he's not had a consistent year.

"And he's in his rookie year, to be honest, but it means that he's not got a superlicence. So if they can actually physically take him, that's the other thing. It might not even be an option."