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Haas

Haas swaps Esteban Ocon for Ryo Hirakawa ahead of Mexico Grand Prix

Haas confirms Ocon’s replacement with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the upcoming Mexican race, citing performance concerns.

Kris Gupta, Founding Editor

• 1 min read
Pit crew mid pit stop with wheel gun sparks
AI-illustrated | Pitlane Press India

Haas F1 Team announced on Sunday that French driver Esteban Ocon will not race at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix, with Japanese reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa stepping in for the weekend. The decision, described by the team as "mutual and in the best interest of the sport," was confirmed by both Autosport and Motorsport.com in separate reports.

Ocon, who joined Haas at the start of the 2024 season, has struggled to match the performance of his teammate, with the Frenchman yet to score a points finish. In the three races he has started, his best result has been a 14th place finish in Bahrain, while his qualifying pace has consistently lagged behind the midfield pack. Team principal Guenther Steiner said the move is intended to give the team a fresh perspective and to evaluate Hirakawa’s readiness for a possible full‑time seat in the future.

Ryo Hirakawa, currently Haas’ official reserve driver, has previously competed in Formula 2 and the Japanese Super Formula series, where he earned a reputation for strong racecraft and consistency. He will make his Formula 1 race debut in Mexico, becoming the first Japanese driver to start a Grand Prix for an American‑based team. The team will also retain Ocon as a development driver for the remainder of the season, allowing him to continue testing and providing feedback on car upgrades.

For Indian fans: The Mexico City race will be broadcast live on FanCode with commentary in English and Hindi, starting at 02:00 IST on Sunday. Haas will be fielding the #47 car for Hirakawa and the #46 for teammate Kevin Magnussen. Indian viewers can also follow live timing on the official F1 app, which offers a dedicated Indian feed.

While the move is likely to spark debate among the F1 community, it underscores Haas’ ongoing search for a competitive edge as the season progresses. The team hopes that Hirakawa’s fresh input will help accelerate development, especially as the championship heads into the high‑altitude challenges of Mexico.

Source: Autosport

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Pitlane Press India is an independent, fan-made publication. It is unofficial and not associated in any way with Formula 1, the FIA, or the Formula One group of companies. “F1” and “Formula 1” are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, used here editorially to refer to the sport.