Sports · Motorsport · 3 hrs ago
Ryo Hirakawa makes F1 debut for Haas at Mexico City Grand Prix
Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced Esteban Ocon for the Mexico City Grand Prix, making his Formula One debut.
The Japanese driver, a two-time world endurance champion, was called up for Saturday’s sessions after driving in Friday practice.
Hirakawa qualified 19th in his first F1 qualifying session.
He said traffic on his final lap cost him time and that he could have reached the second qualifying stage, known as Q2.
Haas said illness was not the reason for the change, but gave no further explanation, and Ocon had not commented.
The change leaves questions about Haas’s driver line-up for the remaining races, with five rounds left in the season.
Hirakawa’s immediate focus is the race, where he said he aims to make a good start and get through the first corner cleanly.
Ryo Hirakawa made his Formula One debut for Haas at the Mexico City Grand Prix, replacing Esteban Ocon.
Hirakawa qualified 19th after traffic disrupted his final lap.
The 32-year-old Japanese reserve driver had driven in first practice on Friday.
Hirakawa said he believed he could have reached the second qualifying segment without the traffic.
He said his focus for the race was getting a good start and navigating the first corner cleanly.
- Who
- Ryo Hirakawa, a Japanese reserve driver, made his Formula One debut for Haas.
- What
- He replaced Esteban Ocon and qualified 19th for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- When
- The qualifying session took place on October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Mexico City, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
- Why
- Haas announced that Hirakawa would take Ocon’s seat. The team gave no further explanation, but said illness was not the reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hirakawa drove in first practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Haas announced that Hirakawa would replace Ocon for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Hirakawa qualified 19th in his first Formula One qualifying session.
- Qualifying position
- 19th
- Team
- Haas
- Replaced driver
- Esteban Ocon
- Driver’s age
- 32
- Circuit
- Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City
3 sources
What people are saying
I could have been, I'll say easily to Q2, which is a very, very big shame for me, but still it's nice to be here, so I can't complain much.
I had traffic from Turn 6 and also high-speed sections, so I lost a lot of downforce.
Some people invent the story. You know, what happened in Miami, about apparently I had an argument with Esteban Ocon? That’s just absolutely zero truth in there.
No, no. I wanted the soft. Don’t do that to me. Come on.