Key Highlights:
- Haas has benched Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix, handing reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa his Formula 1 race debut.
- The decision followed a second-practice dispute between Ocon and race engineer Laura Mueller, though Haas emphasized the driver swap is not due to illness.
- Hirakawa, a 32-year-old Le Mans winner and two-time WEC champion, will partner Oliver Bearman for Saturday practice, qualifying, and Sunday’s 71-lap race.
In a stunning mid-weekend shakeup at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the Haas Formula 1 team has officially dropped Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will step into the VF-26 to make his full Formula 1 race debut, partnering regular driver Oliver Bearman across final practice, qualifying, and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The abrupt switch comes after high tension during Friday’s running. Hirakawa had already piloted Ocon’s car during the opening Free Practice 1 session to satisfy the team’s rookie mandate, ending the session 15th overall. When Ocon stepped back into the cockpit for Free Practice 2, he placed 13th on the timesheets. However, the Frenchman sparked controversy after an intra-team spat with race engineer Laura Mueller regarding tyre strategy, specifically disputing whether to continue circulating on soft compound tyres or switch to the medium compound.
Haas Confirms Switch Amid Garage Friction
Following Friday’s sessions, Haas announced the immediate driver change through an official statement, while shutting down any speculation that physical ailment played a role in the decision.
A Haas statement read: “Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.”
The outfit continued: “Ryo participated in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Friday, his third free practice outing of the season driving the VF-26, finishing 15th overall.”
“The Japanese driver will partner team-mate Ollie Bearman through final practice and qualifying on Saturday and Sunday’s 71-lap grand prix – marking Ryo’s Formula 1 race debut.”
“No further statements will be made at this time.”
Though Haas subsequently added: “No comment beyond the statement other than to confirm it’s not due to illness.”
Hirakawa’s Unconventional Path to an F1 Race Seat
Hirakawa’s sudden promotion grants him his first Grand Prix start at the age of 32, capping a non-traditional route into modern Formula 1. The Japanese racer spent the foundation of his career competing domestically, securing the Super GT championship in 2017 before expanding onto the global sports car stage with Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
During his tenure in endurance racing, Hirakawa captured two WEC world titles and claimed an outright victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. His enduring ties to Toyota paved the way for his Haas role in 2025 following the establishment of a technical partnership between the American team and the Japanese automotive giant. That alliance provided Hirakawa with extensive track time, including seven FP1 outings, briefly placing him in contention for a full-time 2027 Haas race seat before the team signed Rafael Camara.
Why This Matters
The sudden sidelining of Ocon carries major implications for the driver market and echoes past controversies in the Frenchman’s career. Ocon’s benching in Mexico bears a striking resemblance to his acrimonious split from Alpine at the end of the 2024 season, when the Enstone-based outfit replaced him with Jack Doohan ahead of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Since joining Haas in 2025, the 30-year-old Ocon has struggled to establish dominance within the American squad, being comfortably outperformed by his younger team-mate Bearman. With Rafael Camara already confirmed as his eventual replacement at Haas, Ocon’s competitive prospects on the current grid have rapidly diminished. He is widely anticipated to take up a reserve driver role with Aston Martin for the 2027 season, making this sudden mid-weekend exit another tumultuous chapter in his Formula 1 career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Esteban Ocon replaced during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend?
While Haas did not detail the exact internal reasons behind the benching, the decision immediately followed an on-track dispute during Free Practice 2 between Ocon and race engineer Laura Mueller over tyre strategy. Haas explicitly confirmed that the change was not caused by illness.
Who is Ryo Hirakawa?
Ryo Hirakawa is a 32-year-old Japanese racing driver who serves as Haas’s reserve driver via the team’s technical partnership with Toyota. A former Super GT champion, two-time World Endurance Champion, and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Hirakawa is making his Formula 1 race debut this weekend in Mexico.
What are the future plans for Esteban Ocon and Haas?
Haas has already signed Rafael Camara to take over Ocon’s race seat. Following a difficult tenure alongside Oliver Bearman at Haas, the 30-year-old Frenchman is expected to transition into a reserve driver role at Aston Martin for the 2027 championship.
