Did Alex Dunne bid farewell to McLaren due to an opportunity with the Racing Bulls team or not? That was the big question after the British racing stable terminated the contract with the Formula 2 driver in early October. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had reportedly already approached Dunne’s management. However, the Austrian now definitively rules out any potential collaboration with the former McLaren junior.
Who will be Max Verstappen‘s teammate in 2026? And who will get to join the sister team, Racing Bulls? These are two questions that the Red Bull team has yet to answer. Advisor Helmut Marko hopes to change this in the upcoming races. “We will make a decision after the GP Mexico,” the Austrian confirms to Kleine Zeitung.
Isack Hadjar, at least, has no need to worry. “Isack has proven himself and is currently enjoying the situation he is in,” Marko continues. “He has delivered incredible performances.” For Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s current teammate, the coming weeks will be tense. Red Bull has indeed “focused more on him, which has partially paid off. He knows he still needs results now.”
Dunne
The question remains as to who will sit next to Hadjar. Formula 2 talent Arvid Lindlbad, alongside current Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, is often mentioned as a potential candidate. Can the 18-year-old Swede already make the leap to the premier class? “Generally, yes,” says Marko. “But he is simply younger than Hadjar. And we have seen in the past that age plays a role in Formula 1. But generally, he is a new hope for us. We will also see him in the car this year.”
Bad news for Alex Dunne. The former McLaren junior will definitely not be allowed to take a seat in a Red Bull car. “He is not an option for us,” Marko is clear about Dunne.
