Ryo Hirakawa leaves Alpine and joins Haas as reserve driver
Ryo Hirakawa, who took part in the first free practice session in Japan for the Enstone team, has just been recruited by Haas for the rest of the season. The Japanese driver will take part in four free practice sessions for Haas.
He is certainly a highly sought-after driver. Ryo Hirakawa, who participated in the first free practice session for Alpine at Suzuka this weekend, replacing Jack Doohan, continues his tour of Formula 1 teams. This 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours winner, who was recruited by McLaren in 2024 as a reserve driver, had already taken part in the first free practice session in Abu Dhabi for the papaya team. A few days later, he switched suits by participating in the end-of-season tests, still in Abu Dhabi, this time with Haas.
While several teams were vying for his services, it was ultimately the American team that won: the 31-year-old Japanese driver will be a reserve driver for Haas starting from the next Grand Prix in Bahrain.
Haas and Toyota: A Union Taking Shape
A recruitment that once again demonstrates the close ties between Toyota — the team for which Ryo Hirakawa competes in the World Endurance Championship — and the American team. As part of our collaboration with Toyota GAZOO Racing, it’s wonderful to welcome new talent to the team – it’s a real pleasure to work with a driver of his caliber, explained Ayao Komatsu, head of Haas, delighted to now be able to rely on an experienced driver, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and double Hypercar champion, to support the youth, especially young Oliver Bearman.
This is excellent news to welcome Ryo to the MoneyGram Haas F1 team and to benefit from his experience to enhance our knowledge of the VF-25. His feedback during the end-of-season tests last year was very detailed, so giving him track time on four different circuits this year will help the whole team, continued Ayao Komatsu in front of the media, including Planet F1.
Four practice sessions scheduled for Hirakawa
The Japanese driver has already indicated that he will take the wheel this week at the Bahrain circuit, replacing Oliver Bearman for a free practice session.
« I am very excited to join the MoneyGram Haas F1 team. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to starting this new adventure with the team. I will participate in my first FP1 session in Bahrain, so for me, having two consecutive race weekends is very exciting. I really can’t wait to be there. It’s a new challenge for me, and I’m eager to get started », said Hirakawa. The Japanese driver also wanted to thank Haas and Toyota for this opportunity.
After this session in Bahrain, Hirakawa will again replace Bearman in Mexico, at the end of the season. Before that, he will have participated in two other FP1 sessions, this time in place of Esteban Ocon, in Spain and then during the last Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.
