Surprise in Mexico: Ryo Hirakawa takes over from Esteban Ocon at Haas

A huge surprise in the paddock in Mexico: the Haas team has just confirmed that reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take over from Esteban Ocon and compete in the 19th Grand Prix of the season.

Hardly anyone saw this coming: the Haas team will not be fielding its usual driver line-up for the 19th Grand Prix of the year in Mexico. Instead of Esteban Ocon, Ryo Hirakawa will be behind the wheel of the second car alongside Ollie Bearman. The US team’s reserve driver had already completed the first practice session for Gene Haas’s team in Ocon’s car.

He completed 30 laps and finished 15th on the timesheet with a lap time of 1:19.982 minutes. The 32-year-old Japanese driver, who triumphed in the World Endurance Championship alongside Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley in both 2022 and 2023 and is currently leading the World Championship in the Hypercar class this year, was thus taking part in a first practice session for the third time this season.

The team is remaining tight-lipped about the reasons for the driver change. The relevant statement simply reads: “No further comments will be made on this matter at present.” A team spokesperson revealed only this much: the driver swap is not taking place because Ocon is ill, for example. One thing is certain: Ocon will be leaving the team at the end of the current season. Haas had already confirmed this at the end of September. His successor will be 21-year-old Rafael Camara, who currently leads the Formula 2 championship.

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