Marko verifies discussions between Red Bull and Dunne.

      "He's a strong candidate for Red Bull"

      Dr. Helmut Marko has confirmed the rumors connecting Alex Dunne to a seat in Formula 1 with Red Bull. The 19-year-old Irish driver's departure from McLaren's junior program was made public in Singapore, leading to immediate speculation about joining Red Bull. In an interview with Sky Deutschland in Singapore, Marko acknowledged that conversations are ongoing.

      "Alex Dunne is a very quick, aggressive young driver. He fits well with Red Bull. Now that he's available, he’s definitely someone we’ll be considering," he stated. However, Marko did warn that Dunne has been "making a lot of mistakes," suggesting that there is validity to the rumors circulating in the paddock.

      The driver landscape at Red Bull remains quite fluid aside from Max Verstappen, who is the only confirmed driver for 2026. Isack Hadjar is currently contracted, but it remains unclear whether he will step up to the main team or continue as the leader of Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda is expected to move to Aston Martin as a Honda-sponsored reserve, while Arvid Lindblad is anticipated to advance to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson's future appears uncertain, but he is expected to secure a second season.

      There is also ongoing speculation about the possibility of Alex Albon returning to Red Bull to partner Verstappen. A team representative stated to Sport1: "No decision has been made regarding who will join Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing in 2026, nor about who will occupy the two seats at Racing Bulls."