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Haas to Bench Ocon for Spanish GP Practice as Rookie Rule Faces Backlash
Haas F1 Team has confirmed that Esteban Ocon will not participate in the first free practice session (FP1) of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. In his place, reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take the wheel. This move is part of Haas’ strategy to comply with the FIA’s rookie participation requirements, which are set to become more demanding in 2025.
Hirakawa, an experienced Japanese racer, joined Haas earlier this year after parting ways with the Alpine team. His arrival at Haas coincided with the squad’s new technical partnership with Toyota, prompting speculation that the Japanese manufacturer played a role in bringing Hirakawa on board. The 31-year-old has already driven for Haas during pre-season testing in Bahrain, but this will mark his first official Grand Prix weekend session with the team.
Under current FIA regulations, each Formula 1 team must allow a rookie to drive in at least one FP1 session per car during the season. From 2025, this requirement will increase to two sessions per car. These rules are intended to give emerging talent more exposure to real Grand Prix conditions. As a result, teams are beginning to schedule rookie outings earlier in the year to ensure compliance and evaluate their reserve drivers under race weekend conditions.
While Hirakawa may not be a rookie in the traditional sense—he is a 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and has raced in Japan’s Super Formula—he qualifies under the FIA’s criteria, having competed in fewer than two official F1 race weekends. His experience in high-level motorsport, especially endurance racing, adds valuable insight to Haas’ program.
Esteban Ocon, whose 2024 campaign has been inconsistent, will step aside for FP1 in Barcelona, giving Hirakawa the opportunity to showcase his skills. This move has sparked debate within the F1 community, as some believe the mandate to run rookies could negatively affect team preparations, particularly for midfield teams like Haas that rely heavily on every session to fine-tune their cars and gather data.
Despite the criticism, Haas appears to be making a calculated decision. By fielding Hirakawa early in the season, the team not only meets the rookie requirement but also gets a chance to assess the Japanese driver’s real-time performance. Internal feedback suggests that Hirakawa has already made a strong impression through simulations and earlier testing, particularly for his adaptability and technical feedback.
Hirakawa’s presence in FP1 is notable not just for Haas, but for Japanese motorsport as a whole. With limited representation in Formula 1, his participation brings visibility to Japanese talent and could strengthen Haas’ relationship with Toyota, potentially opening up further technical and commercial opportunities.
As the Spanish Grand Prix weekend nears, all attention will be on Hirakawa’s performance in Friday’s FP1. While the FIA’s expanded rookie program has divided opinion, it is undeniably shifting the spotlight toward the next generation of drivers. For Haas, this is a chance to evaluate future options, and for Hirakawa, it’s a rare opportunity to prove he belongs on the sport’s biggest stage.
