Esteban Ocon will not race in Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix after Haas pulled the French driver from the lineup on Saturday morning, with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa stepping into the car for his Formula 1 debut, lefigaro.fr reported.
TGR Haas F1 Team confirms Ryo Hirakawa start at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
The American-owned outfit issued a brief statement confirming the lineup change ahead of the weekend’s remaining sessions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The team stated that its reserve driver would take over Ocon’s car for the remainder of the event, adding that no further comments would be provided at the time.
Haas later clarified to media members that the 30-year-old French driver was not suffering from illness. Several other competitors, including Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, had previously missed media commitments on Thursday and Friday after feeling unwell.
Ryo Hirakawa prepares for 71-lap race following Friday practice session
Hirakawa, 32, arrives in Formula 1 with an extensive endurance racing résumé. The Japanese driver is a two-time World Endurance Champion and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 with Toyota. He logged his first official track time of the weekend during Friday’s opening practice session, completing 22 laps and setting the 15th-fastest time.
BREAKING: Haas confirm Ryo Hirakawa will make his F1 debut in the Mexico City Grand Prix, replacing Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the weekend#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/u6HoaVuncL
Haas confirmed that Hirakawa will partner with rookie Ollie Bearman through final practice and qualifying on Saturday before contesting Sunday’s 71-lap grand prix. Ocon had participated only in Friday afternoon’s second practice session, recording the 13th-fastest time and finishing directly ahead of Bearman.
Parallels to Alpine departure and difficult 2025 campaign for Ocon
The weekend’s sudden benching mirrors an identical situation Ocon faced at Alpine in 2024. Ahead of his departure from that team, the French driver was sidelined for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to accommodate Jack Doohan, who secured a full-time seat for 2025.
Ocon enters the final stretch of his two-year contract with Haas having secured just seven championship points this season, compared to 23 points for teammate Bearman. With nearly all 2027 Formula 1 grid spots filled, Ocon is currently without a regular race seat for the upcoming season, though paddock sources indicate he maintains multiple options to transition into a reserve driver role next year.
Tenth Formula 1 season approaches milestone amid unresolved 2027 options
Now contesting his tenth season at the pinnacle of motorsport, Ocon was scheduled to reach the milestone of 200 Grand Prix entries next weekend in Brazil. His career statistics include one Grand Prix victory, captured in Hungary in 2021, alongside three podium finishes earned with the Renault and Alpine banner.
His most recent podium came in November 2024 at Interlagos, where he finished second behind Max Verstappen in a rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix ahead of compatriot Pierre Gasly. As the paddock prepares for Sunday’s lights out in Mexico City, questions remain regarding which constructor will secure Ocon’s services in a reserve capacity for 2027, with Aston Martin and Williams among the teams mentioned in media reports.
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