Breaking News: F1 Team Releases Official Statement Confirming Mid-Season Driver C…read more
Breaking News: F1 Team Releases Official Statement Confirming Mid-Season Driver C…read more
A surprise mid-season driver swap has been confirmed in Formula 1, with Ryo Hirakawa officially joining the Haas F1 Team as their reserve driver just days before the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The announcement follows Hirakawa’s recent appearance for Alpine in FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he stood in for Jack Doohan. He will now switch roles and debut for Haas in Friday’s FP1 session in Bahrain, replacing rookie Ollie Bearman behind the wheel.
In a team statement, the 31-year-old Japanese driver shared his excitement:
“I’m thrilled to be joining MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. I truly appreciate the opportunity and look forward to this new chapter. Having back-to-back race weekend sessions is a great experience, and I’m eager to hit the track in Bahrain.”
Hirakawa brings a wealth of experience from the World Endurance Championship with Toyota GAZOO Racing, as well as previous stints in Super GT and Super Formula. He also impressed Haas engineers with his performance during the 2024 post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised the addition:
“We’re excited to welcome Ryo to the team. His insights during testing were extremely valuable, and giving him track time at four different circuits this year will benefit the entire team.”
In addition to Bahrain, Hirakawa is also set to participate in FP1 sessions in Mexico, Spain, and Abu Dhabi. Esteban Ocon will give up his seat for two of those outings later in the season.
Haas has made a steady start to their 2025 campaign, sitting sixth in the constructors’ standings with 15 points. McLaren currently leads the championship, ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull.
