Ryo Hirakawa

Haas dropped Esteban Ocon for the rest of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend and gave no reason for the change. The team confirmed that Ocon was not ill [6]. Ryo Hirakawa, 32, was called up on Saturday morning, before qualifying [3] [2].

He was due to partner Ollie Bearman through final practice and qualifying [2]. Formula 1 described Sunday's 71-lap race as his first Grand Prix start [2].

Friday practice and qualifying

Hirakawa took part in the opening practice session on Friday as Haas's reserve driver [6]. Formula 1 reported that he finished 15th overall [2]. Ocon returned to the car during the second practice session [2]. He was 13th, ahead of Bearman [6].

He qualified 19th and was eliminated in Q1 [3]. He said he had traffic on his last push lap [3]. He called the call-up a dream come true [3].

Reserve driver since 2025

Hirakawa became Haas's official reserve driver in April 2025 [1] [4]. He moved from Alpine to the role, and Formula 1 reported that he would help with car development as well as reserve duties [4]. Haas's profile lists four practice sessions with the team, in Bahrain, Spain, Mexico City and Abu Dhabi [1].

Earlier practice running also came with McLaren [3] [1]. At Alpine he was official test and reserve driver before joining Haas, and ran one practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka [1] [4]. He also drove for Haas in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi in December 2024 [4].

Ocon was already due to leave Haas at the end of the 2026 season. Ferrari junior Rafael Camara will replace him next year [6].

Early career in Japan

Hirakawa was born on 7 March 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan [1]. He won the All-Japan Junior Kart Championship in 2008 [1].

He was runner-up in Formula Challenge Japan in 2011 and 2012 [1]. In 2012 he won the Japanese Formula 3 championship [1] and the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan title [1]. That year he qualified 24th for the Macau Grand Prix and did not finish [1].

Super Formula, Super GT and Le Mans

Hirakawa raced in Super Formula from 2013 to 2015, and again from 2018 to 2023 [1].

In the GT500 class of Super GT, driving for TOM'S, he won the 2017 title and finished runner-up in 2018, 2019 and 2020 [1]. In the European Le Mans Series he was fifth in the 2016 championship with Thiriet by TDS and fourth in 2017 with G-Drive Racing [1].

Toyota and the WEC titles

He races for Toyota in the FIA World Endurance Championship [4] [1]. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 with the team. Formula 1 calls him a two-time WEC champion [3], and the Haas profile gives his titles as 2022 and 2023 [1].

The Haas profile gives his championship record in detail. He was champion in 2022 with 149 points, including the Le Mans win, and champion again in 2023 with 172 points. He was fourth in 2024 with 109 points and seventh in 2025 with 66 points [1]. RaceFans reports that he normally races for Toyota in the WEC and is due to return there [6].

What happens next

Haas has not said whether Hirakawa will keep the seat for the rest of the season [6]. The team's statement ended: “No further statements will be made at this time.” [2]

He called the call-up “a very big surprise this morning” [3]. He added: “I was ready but always dreaming about it.” [3] On the short notice he said: “Just these 12 hours passed so fast” [3]. Before the race he said: “Very excited for that.” [3]