P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren recently communicated it had parted ways with one of its drivers, with Red Bull believed to be in the market for the young star.
According to former F1 driver Derek Daly, McLaren made a mistake by parting ways with junior driver Alex Dunne.
Dunne had been in partnership with McLaren for nearly 18 months, participating in private tests and two FP1 sessions.
The split between Dunne and McLaren reportedly occurred due to disagreements about the Irishman’s future.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed talks with Dunne after his exit from McLaren, potentially offering him one of the two Racing Bulls seats for next year.
For Dunne to secure a super licence and move to F1 full-time, he must finish at least third in the Formula 2 drivers’ championship, a feat Daly believes he is capable of achieving.
Despite McLaren having no immediate route for Dunne to a full-time role, Daly criticized the team for letting him go, stating that it was a significant error.
He emphasized that Red Bull recognizing Dunne’s talent is a positive move, and described McLaren’s decision to release him as illogical and questioned someone eventually having to explain it.
