Haas has confirmed that reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, handing the Japanese driver his long-awaited F1 race debut.
The 32-year-old will partner Oliver Bearman in final practice, qualifying and Sunday's race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Hirakawa is already familiar with the VF-26, having driven the car during Friday's opening practice session, finishing 15th before Ocon returned for FP2.
Haas has not provided a reason for the unexpected change, leaving questions surrounding Ocon's absence. However, the team did not confirm it is not because of illness.
Although Hirakawa has never started an F1 grand prix, he brings considerable experience from other categories, having won multiple world championship titles and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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Who is Ryo Hirakawa?
Born in Hiroshima, Japan, on 7 March 1994, Hirakawa began his motorsport career in karting before progressing through the Japanese single-seater ranks.
He won the Japanese Formula 3 Championship in 2012, the same year he secured the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan title.
His performances helped him progress into Super Formula in 2013, where he established himself as a regular frontrunner.
Hirakawa enjoyed his strongest Super Formula campaign in 2020, finishing runner-up in the championship, and claimed four victories during his time in the series.
He also achieved success in Japan's Super GT championship, winning the GT500 title in 2017 with TOM'S.
However, his greatest achievements have come in international endurance racing.
In 2022, Hirakawa joined Toyota's leading World Endurance Championship programme, sharing the manufacturer's No. 8 car with former F1 drivers Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley.
The trio won the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year before securing the World Endurance Championship drivers' title.
They successfully defended their championship in 2023, establishing Hirakawa as one of Toyota's most successful endurance racing drivers.
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How did Hirakawa become involved in F1?
Despite spending much of his career competing in Japan and endurance racing, Hirakawa has gained experience with several F1 teams.
He joined McLaren as a reserve driver in 2024, undertaking simulator and testing duties before making his official F1 practice debut at that year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hirakawa subsequently joined Alpine as a test and reserve driver for 2025, taking part in opening practice at his home grand prix in Japan.
However, his association with the French manufacturer was short-lived.
In April 2025, he switched to Haas as the American outfit strengthened its technical relationship with Toyota.
The partnership provided Hirakawa with further opportunities to drive F1 machinery, including four practice appearances during the 2025 season.
He retained his reserve driver role for 2026 while continuing to compete for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship.
Hirakawa has participated in three FP1 sessions for Haas this season, including Friday's outing in Mexico City, providing him with experience of the current machinery ahead of his unexpected promotion.
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Why is Hirakawa replacing Ocon?
Haas has not explained its decision to replace Ocon midway through the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
The Frenchman returned to the car for second practice on Friday, finishing 13th after Hirakawa had completed the opening session.
Ocon was involved in a tense radio exchange with race engineer Laura Mueller during FP2 over tyre strategy, although there is no confirmed connection between the exchange and Haas' subsequent decision.
The 30-year-old is already set to leave the team at the end of the season, with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara due to replace him in 2027.
Hirakawa's promotion comes against that backdrop, although Haas has only confirmed the change for the remainder of the Mexico City weekend.
For Hirakawa, the announcement presents an opportunity to make his first grand prix start after years of competing at the highest levels of Japanese and endurance racing.
At 32, he will become one of the oldest drivers to make his F1 debut in the modern era when he takes to the grid on Sunday, younger than only Andre Lotterer, who made his debut for Caterham at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2014.
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