- Ryo Hirakawa is set to make his Formula 1 Grand Prix debut with Haas at the Mexico City Grand Prix, stepping in for Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the race weekend.
- At 32 years old, Hirakawa becomes the oldest driver to debut in F1 since Andre Lotterer competed at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.
- The Japanese driver arrives with an elite motorsport pedigree, including two World Endurance Championship titles and a 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Ryo Hirakawa Secures Sudden Haas F1 Debut in Mexico City
In an unexpected turn of events on Saturday morning at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Haas announced that reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa would replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Hirakawa had already taken the wheel of Ocon’s car during Friday’s Free Practice 1 session before receiving the confirmation that he would take on full competitive duties, culminating in a 19th-place qualifying result for his first career start in Formula 1.
The call-up marks a rare milestone in modern motorsport: at 32 years of age, Hirakawa becomes Formula 1’s oldest race debutant in over a decade. The previous driver to make his debut at that age was Andre Lotterer, who took part in his sole Formula 1 event at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix with Caterham. While Lotterer’s debut was cut short after just a single lap due to mechanical failure, Hirakawa will be aiming for a more resilient race distance under the challenging high-altitude conditions of Mexico City.
From Japanese Domination to World Endurance Championship Glory
Hirakawa’s path to the pinnacle of open-wheel racing is defined by a deep and diverse competitive history. After progressing through Japanese karting, he transitioned to single-seaters in 2010. His rise through domestic championships was swift; he competed in Formula Challenge Japan and dominated the Japanese Formula 3 Championship, taking victory in his debut event before securing the 2012 series title. Backed by the Toyota Young Driver Program, Hirakawa stepped into Super Formula in 2013, collecting four wins and four pole positions over nine seasons. Concurrently, he established himself as a premier sports car competitor in Super GT’s top GT500 class between 2014 and 2021, claiming the overall championship in 2017.
In 2022, Hirakawa’s career expanded to the global stage when he secured a seat in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Pairing with Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley, Hirakawa achieved immediate international stardom by winning the Drivers’ Championship during his debut campaign alongside a victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. The trio replicated their title-winning form in 2023 with a second consecutive Le Mans triumph. Hirakawa continues his endurance commitments with the squad, as the Toyota Racing team is currently leading the 2026 WEC standings.
The Formula 1 Trajectory: McLaren, Alpine, and Haas
Hirakawa’s formal integration into the Formula 1 paddock began in September 2023, when McLaren signed him to their Driver Development programme as a reserve driver. His first official taste of contemporary Grand Prix machinery arrived in an FP1 outing at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Moving to Alpine in 2025 as a test and reserve driver, he logged another FP1 appearance at his home race, the Japanese Grand Prix, before making the transition to Haas.
With Haas, Hirakawa accumulated valuable track time through four practice sessions across 2025 and two more in 2026. His extensive preparation behind the scenes positioned him as the direct choice when the team required an immediate replacement for Ocon in Mexico, thrusting the experienced Japanese veteran from reserve duties straight onto the starting grid.
Why This Matters
Hirakawa’s debut represents an uncommon departure from the typical youth-centric trajectory of modern Formula 1, which heavily prioritizes teenage phenoms and early-twenties prospects emerging from FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3. By turning to a 32-year-old endurance champion, Haas reinforces the immense value of professional racecraft, technical maturity, and crossover talent from the World Endurance Championship. For Hirakawa, the weekend provides a vital showcase to demonstrate that top-tier sports car specialists can step into Grand Prix machinery on short notice and perform at the sport’s highest level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ryo Hirakawa racing for Haas at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
Haas confirmed on Saturday morning that Hirakawa would replace regular race driver Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend after Hirakawa had already driven Ocon’s car during Friday’s opening practice session.
What are Ryo Hirakawa’s major career racing achievements?
Hirakawa won the Japanese Formula 3 Championship in 2012 and the Super GT GT500 title in 2017. He later captured back-to-back FIA World Endurance Championship titles in 2022 and 2023 with Toyota Gazoo Racing, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice alongside co-drivers Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley.
Who was the last driver as old as Hirakawa to make an F1 debut?
The last driver to debut at age 32 was Andre Lotterer at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix with Caterham, making Hirakawa the oldest Formula 1 debutant since that event.
