Haas pulls Ocon from Mexico City weekend, Hirakawa to make race debut
Haas has withdrawn Esteban Ocon for the rest of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa takes over the VF-26 from final practice and will make his Formula 1 race debut on Sunday. The team says Ocon is not ill and has given no other reason.
A late change on race morning
Hours before final practice in Mexico City, Haas announced that Esteban Ocon would "take no further part" in the weekend. His seat goes to Ryo Hirakawa, the team's Toyota-backed reserve driver, who will partner Oliver Bearman in final practice, qualifying and Sunday's 71-lap race. For the 32-year-old Japanese driver it will be a first Formula 1 start.
Haas did not explain the decision. According to PlanetF1, a spokesperson said only that it was not down to illness, and the team's statement ended by saying no further comment would be made for now. The Race and RacingNews365 likewise report that no official reason has been given, so any link to events on Friday remains speculation.
What happened on Friday
Hirakawa had already driven the VF-26 in first practice, the session Haas gave to a rookie to meet the mandatory outing rule. He finished 15th with a best lap of 1:19.982, according to RacingNews365. That left Ocon with only second practice, where he ended 13th, ahead of Bearman. The Race reports a tense radio exchange with his engineer over which tyre compound to run, and that he looked unhappy in the paddock afterwards.
Who is Hirakawa?
Hirakawa has been a Haas reserve since 2025 and has also done practice work for McLaren and Alpine. Friday was his third practice appearance for Haas this season, after four in 2025. In endurance racing he is a Toyota factory driver: he won the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship in 2022 and 2023, and RacingNews365 adds a third title this year.
RacingNews365 notes that he will be the second-oldest rookie of the 21st century, behind Andre Lotterer, who debuted for Caterham at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.
By the numbers
Ocon was already on his way out. Haas announced in September that Ferrari junior Rafael Camara will replace him for 2027, and the team confirmed a multi-year deal on 23 October. Our race data shows a season of modest returns: after 18 rounds Ocon has 7 points, from three top-ten finishes, with an eighth place as his best result, and sits 16th in the drivers' standings. Bearman has 23 points and is 13th.
Haas has not said who will drive its cars at the next race, in Brazil.
