Reports from the Japanese outlet Autosport Web suggest that Alpine is moving quickly in search of stability for its Formula 1 future, having already identified a possible successor to Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian driver, once considered a rising star, has had a challenging season in Formula 1, putting Alpine under pressure to reconsider its driver strategy.

According to the report, Alpine has turned its attention to Alexander Dunne, a McLaren junior driver currently sitting second in the Formula 2 championship with Rodin Motorsport. The 19-year-old Dunne has impressed in his rookie F2 season and has now attracted the attention of Flavio Briatore, who was recently appointed as Alpine’s new overseer, as well as other senior figures within the Enstone squad.

 

Alpine has booked a McLaren protégé for testing duties

To get a closer look at Dunne’s abilities, Alpine has reportedly scheduled him for a TPC test. These “testing of previous cars” sessions allow teams to evaluate drivers in machinery that is at least two years old, providing a safe proving ground without impacting current development. Up until now, Alpine had mainly relied on Paul Aron and Arjun Maini for these outings, but the decision to include Dunne suggests that the Irish teenager is being considered as a serious candidate for a future race seat.

McLaren, for its part, seems open to cooperation. However, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris tied to long-term contracts in Woking, there is little prospect of Dunne progressing to a race seat in the near future. According to Autosport Web, McLaren would be willing to sanction a loan deal, allowing Dunne to spend ‘one or two years’ at Alpine — an arrangement that could benefit both teams.

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There is caution at Enstone after the rookie’s struggles

While Dunne’s name has gathered momentum, there remains hesitation within Alpine. The team has had a turbulent year, with inexperienced drivers Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto unable to get the best out of a car that was lacking in performance itself. Putting another rookie in the cockpit would be risky, and Briatore is thought to be considering alternatives to ensure that Alpine does not repeat its mistakes.

One such alternative is Felipe Drugovich, who has been linked with several Formula 1 opportunities. The Brazilian driver, who won the 2022 Formula 2 championship, has been serving as a reserve driver with Aston Martin and has more experience than Dunne. Although he has not yet raced in F1, his extensive experience in the paddock and his testing experience make him a safer option than throwing another teenager into the deep end.

 

The Briatore effect

It is no coincidence that Alpine’s driver search has intensified since Flavio Briatore’s return. The Italian, famous for leading Benetton and Renault to world championships during his controversial tenure, has wasted no time in making his presence felt. With Alpine’s performances stagnating, Briatore has sought to inject fresh energy, and perhaps a little chaos, into the team’s long-term planning.

His influence could be decisive in determining whether Dunne is chosen as Alpine’s next gamble or whether a safer pair of hands is drafted in instead.

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It’s a question of philosophy

What this rumour really highlights is the broader dilemma Alpine faces. Should they double down on youth and hope to shape another raw talent into a future champion, or stabilise with experience and look for immediate results?

The Colapinto experiment has demonstrated the pitfalls of impatience, yet Formula 1 rewards those willing to take a chance on the next breakthrough driver.

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Alpine are the ‘collectors of lost boys’

At this stage, Alpine might consider setting up a halfway house for promising juniors who have been cast adrift by other teams. They have cycled through more ‘next big things’ than a boy band audition panel, with Colapinto and Doohan the latest names to fall short. If the rumours about Dunne prove to be true, he will join a long line of talents who have been shuffled into the Alpine system with varying results. The irony, of course, is that McLaren would essentially be outsourcing their own problem by letting Alpine play babysitter while reaping the benefits if Dunne blossoms.

Meanwhile, Flavio Briatore must be relishing his return to the headlines. Few things delight the Italian more than orchestrating a dramatic signing, and one can imagine him already rehearsing his lines for the press conference. ‘We at Alpine believe in the future,’ he might declare, conveniently overlooking the fact that the present remains a stubborn headache.

The Drugovich fallback adds an extra layer of comedy. For years, the Brazilian has been on the cusp of Formula 1, always close enough to smell the seat upholstery yet never quite managing to step through the door. If Alpine finally hands him the chance, it will be more a case of “why not, nothing else has worked” than a bold stroke.

So where does this leave Colapinto? Unfortunately, nowhere good. His struggles have made him vulnerable, and Alpine’s rumoured pursuit of either Drugovich or Dunne suggests that his days in Formula 1 could be numbered. It would not be the first time that a junior driver who was once highly touted has been chewed up by the unforgiving machinery of F1 politics and performance.

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