F1 Driver Shocks Fans with Sudden Team Exit Following Japanese GP…. read more
Haas have signed Ryo Hirakawa from Alpine as the team’s official reserve driver after completing FP1 for the Enstone-based squad at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday. The 31-year-old will drive for his new squad immediately in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, replacing Oliver Bearman. Hirakawa has enjoyed support from Toyota throughout his career, winning two World Endurance Championship crowns with the Japanese manufacturer.
Toyota has partnered with Haas for the 2025 season onwards, and the fruits of this new relationship were witnessed ahead of the Australian Grand Prix when development driver and former Super Formula champion Ritomo Miyata completed a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) session for the American squad. Speaking after the move was announced, Hirakawa said: “I’m excited to join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, I really appreciate this opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to a new journey with the team.
“I’m driving my first FP1 session in Bahrain, so for me to have driven at two race weekends in a row is exciting, and I can’t wait to get to Bahrain. I would like to thank Komatsu-san, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, Morizo-san (Akio Toyoda) and Toyota GAZOO Racing for this opportunity, it’s a new challenge for me, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Team principal Ayao Komatsu added: “It’s great to welcome Ryo to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and have his experience bolster our knowledge and understanding of the VF-25. His feedback was very detailed at the post-season test last year, so being able to provide Ryo valuable track time across four different circuits this year will help the entire team.
As part of our collaboration with Toyota GAZOO Racing, it’s great to welcome new talent into the team – it’s a real pleasure to work with a racer of his driving acumen.”
According to a report from The Race, the experienced Japanese racer initially viewed Alpine as his best chance of securing a full-time F1 drive, he now sees Haas as the most compelling path forward, given the Toyota connections.
This decision makes sense on paper. While Jack Doohan’s position at Alpine is far from stable, Franco Colapinto is at the head of the line to replace him, and Kush Maini and Paul Aron are also official test and reserve drivers.
Haas have a much smaller set-up, putting Hirakawa at the front of the line for a full-time drive. Esteban Ocon is viewed as a long-term leader for Komatsu’s squad, but Oliver Bearman’s Ferrari links mean that a promotion to the Scuderia, once Lewis Hamilton retires, could create an opportunity for the Japanese racer.
