Ryo Hirakawa replaces Esteban Ocon for rest of Mexico City Grand Prix weekend

In brief

• Haas replaced Esteban Ocon with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the rest of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
• The change followed a tyre-strategy dispute between Ocon and his race engineer during Friday's second practice.
• Hirakawa, a two-time WEC champion, will make his Formula 1 race debut on Sunday.
• Ocon is leaving Haas at the end of the year.

Hirakawa takes over Ocon's car

Haas announced on Saturday that Japanese reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take over from Esteban Ocon for the rest of the Mexico City weekend (Ryo Hirakawa zastąpi Estebana Ocona w pozostałej części GP Meksyku – sport1.pl) (Ocon suddenly replaced at Haas for rest of Mexico F1 weekend – The Race). Hirakawa will take part in final practice and qualifying on Saturday and will race on Sunday alongside Oliver Bearman, which will be his Formula 1 race debut in the 71-lap grand prix. The team said the change was not caused by illness on Ocon's side.

Friday tyre dispute

Ocon questioned the call and said he had wanted the soft tyre (F1: Haas bring in Ryo Hirakawa for Esteban Ocon for Mexico City Grand Prix – BBC). Haas declined to say whether the exchange was linked to the decision. French media reports claimed Ocon had confronted his team principal, but Ocon has denied any physical altercation (Pobił się z szefem zespołu F1? Kierowca wydał oświadczenie – SportoweFakty) (Miał zaatakować szefa w F1. Natychmiastowa reakcja, to jego koniec – Przegląd Sportowy).

Hirakawa's background

Hirakawa, 32, drove Ocon's car in Friday's first practice session, which is required to give rookies running time, and finished 15th. He is a two-time FIA World Endurance Championship winner with Toyota and has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He joined Haas as reserve driver in 2025 under a technical partnership between the team and Toyota, and was a candidate for a 2027 race seat before losing out to Rafael Camara.

Ocon's future

Ocon is leaving Haas at the end of the year, and the team has confirmed it will not extend his contract. He is looking for a race seat for next season, and reports suggest his chances are slim.