Esteban Ocon will not compete in the remainder of the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, with Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replacing him.
Haas unexpectedly released a brief statement Saturday morning announcing the change.
“TGR Haas F1 Team reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico Grand Prix weekend,” the statement said.
“Hirakawa, a two-time FIA World Endurance Championship winner and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner with Toyota Gazoo Racing, took part in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Friday October 30 – his third free practice outing of the season behind the wheel of the VF-26, finishing 15th overall.
“The Japanese driver will partner teammate Ollie Bearman in final practice and qualifying for Saturday and Sunday’s 71-lap Grand Prix – Hirakawa’s Formula 1 debut.
“No further statements will be made at this time.”
No reason was given for the change, but Haas confirmed it was not due to illness for Ocon.
So it makes sense to think that he seems to have been benched.
All the reasons the Ocon-Haas relationship fell apart
Ocon had a frustrating Friday in Mexico, publicly expressing his dissatisfaction with his race plan in FP2 – his only session in the car, after Hirakawa, 32, drove in FP1 to satisfy the rookie practice rule.
His time wasn’t bad – after taking over Hirakawa’s car for FP2, Ocon beat teammate Ollie Bearman to finish a respectable 13th – but there was friction on the radio with his engineer Laura Mueller.
Laura Mueller: We changed the high fuel RPM to medium RPM because Ollie’s (tire) appearance isn’t great.
Esteban Ocon: You still do software, right?
M.L.: No, we have to do medium.
EO: No, no, I wanted soft, like, don’t do that to me. Come on.
Ocon was visibly dissatisfied in the paddock after the session, keeping his helmet on as he returned to Haas’ reception unit.
Haas has already decided to replace Ocon with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027, announcing his departure at the end of September.
Camara beat Toyota-backed driver Hirakawa to the seat.
Is this 31-year-old rookie Toyota’s next F1 driver?
Hirakawa, a two-time WEC champion, has completed multiple F1 test outings for McLaren, Alpine and Haas since late 2024, with a long-stated goal: to race in F1.
He will become the oldest F1 debutant since Andre Lotterer, then aged 32, drove for Caterham at the Belgian GP in 2014.
The team is not commenting on its crew for the upcoming race in Brazil, per its statement.
Gn sports
