Ryo Hirakawa replaces Esteban Ocon at Haas for Mexico City Grand Prix

Driver Change Confirmed in Mexico

Haas F1 Team has announced that reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take over the driving duties from Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Ocon participated in Friday’s practice sessions but will not feature for the rest of the event.

Context of the Decision

The team has provided minimal information regarding the sudden change. A Haas spokesperson confirmed that the decision was not related to any illness on Ocon's part. The move follows a tense radio exchange between Ocon and his race engineer, Laura Mueller, during Friday’s second practice session regarding tyre strategy decisions. When asked if the personnel change was linked to this incident or subsequent internal discussions, Haas representatives declined to comment.

Background on the Drivers

• Ryo Hirakawa: The 32-year-old Japanese driver is set to make his Formula 1 debut. He is a recognized talent in endurance racing, having secured two World Endurance Championship titles with Toyota, a technical partner to Haas.
• Esteban Ocon: Currently seeking a seat for the 2025 season, Ocon’s future in the sport remains uncertain as team vacancies dwindle. It has been previously confirmed that Ocon will depart Haas at the end of the current season.

Verification

Interested parties can verify this information and track further updates by monitoring official Formula 1 press releases or the official social media channels maintained by the Haas F1 Team.