The Haas Formula 1 team has announced a surprise decision to replace Esteban Ocon with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the remainder of the Mexico Grand Prix weekend. Hirakawa steps in as Oliver Bearman’s team-mate for final practice, qualifying, and Sunday’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Driver Changes and Weekend Events
Hirakawa originally drove Ocon’s VF-26 during Friday morning’s opening practice session as part of the team’s rookie driver mandate, finishing 15th overall. Ocon returned to the cockpit for second practice and placed 13th, but his session drew attention following a disagreement with race engineer Laura Mueller regarding tyre strategy between soft and medium compounds.
The team confirmed the lineup change in an official statement, noting that Hirakawa would partner Bearman through the remainder of the weekend for what will mark his official Formula 1 race debut in the 71-lap grand prix. Haas added in a separate comment that the sudden driver change was not a result of any illness.
Background and Future Outlook
Hirakawa’s debut arrives at the age of 32 following a career predominantly built in Japan, where he secured the 2017 Super GT championship before transitioning to the World Endurance Championship. He secured two WEC titles and a Le Mans 24 Hours victory with Toyota, leading to his reserve role at Haas in 2025 as part of a technical partnership between the American team and the Japanese manufacturer.
For Ocon, the sudden departure mirrors the conclusion of his time at Alpine in 2024, when he was sidelined for the Abu Dhabi season finale in favor of his upcoming successor. Motorsport.com understands the 30-year-old French driver is anticipated to join Aston Martin as a reserve in 2027 following a difficult campaign at Haas where he was outperformed by Bearman, with Rafael Camara slated to take over the seat in the future.
