Haas substitutes Esteban Ocon with Ryo Hirakawa for Mexico Grand Prix

The Japanese driver will debut for Haas in Mexico after the Frenchman's sudden removal, with no reason given by the team.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 31 Oct 2026 19:56:06 GMT

Haas F1 announced on Saturday that Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, giving the Japanese driver his Formula 1 race debut.

What happened

During second practice on Friday, Ocon appeared in the Haas car before the team announced a change. The team confirmed on Saturday that Hirakawa would take over Ocon’s seat for third practice, qualifying and the race on Sunday. The move comes with four races left in the 2026 season.

What the reports add

According to the Independent, Haas did not disclose a specific reason for the swap but noted that Ocon was not ill, and team members removed his name and number from the hospitality area on Saturday morning. The Associated Press reported that Haas issued a brief statement saying, “No further statements will be made at this time,” and that the change was “unexplained.” Both outlets mention that Hirakawa had already driven in first practice on Friday, initially appearing to fulfill a requirement for non‑regular drivers.

What was said

The Independent quoted team principal Ayao Komatsu as saying he “could not go into details.” The Associated Press noted that Haas provided no further comment beyond the brief statement.

How it came about

Ocon, a 30‑year‑old French driver who won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with Alpine, was expected to finish the season with Haas alongside teammate Oliver Bearman. His contract expires at the end of 2026, and the team has already named Brazilian F2 leader Rafael Camara as the 2027 driver. The sudden replacement follows a row over tyres with race engineer Laura Muller during Friday’s second practice, as reported by the Independent. Earlier this week, Mexico City hosted the unveiling of a 110‑foot La Catrina sculpture, a cultural backdrop to the Grand Prix weekend (Felo coverage).

Key facts

Haas announced Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. (independent.co.uk)
The change was made after second practice on Friday and confirmed on Saturday. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Haas gave no specific reason for the swap and said no further statements would be made. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Team principal Ayao Komatsu said he could not go into details. (independent.co.uk)