Haas announced on October 31, local time in Mexico City, that reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa would replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. The team specified Saturday’s FP3 and qualifying, followed by Sunday’s 71-lap race. Hirakawa partners Ollie Bearman, with Ocon taking no further part in those remaining sessions.
Haas announces the switch after Ocon’s Friday FP2 appearance
The Haas statement carried by Formula1.com did not explain the reason for the change and said no further statements would be made at that time. It confirms a change to the team’s line-up for this event; it does not announce a long-term change to Ocon’s seat or contract status.
This is also different from a routine FP1 rotation. The 32-year-old Hirakawa drove the VF-26 in first practice on Friday, October 30, finishing 15th in his third practice outing of the season. Ocon returned to the car for FP2. Only on Saturday morning did Haas announce that Hirakawa’s assignment would extend to the remaining sessions.
In an interview with Formula1.com, Hirakawa described the late call as a big surprise but said being ready was part of his reserve role. He called the opportunity a “dream come true” and said roughly 12 hours had passed very quickly, with much to prepare and considerable help from the team.
Hirakawa’s first qualifying result becomes 18th
Hirakawa then drove car 50 in his first F1 qualifying session, setting a Q1 best of 1:18.958. Haas’s recap that day recorded 19th as the position at the chequered flag. Following Lawson’s subsequent disqualification from qualifying, the FIA’s Final Classification 59 lists Hirakawa 18th, as does Provisional Starting Grid 60.
Explaining his failure to reach the second qualifying segment, Hirakawa said he encountered traffic on his final push lap. In the team’s qualifying recap, Ayao Komatsu also noted clear progress in FP3 and a calm approach to Q1, before traffic in the high-speed corners. Komatsu considered a Q2 place close, but did not claim it would have been certain without that traffic.
INKA SPORTS Analysis: What changes with this late substitution?
The substitution changes the job Hirakawa must perform, rather than simply adding another practice outing. He has made nine FP1 appearances for McLaren, Alpine and Haas since 2024, so an F1 weekend is familiar territory. Moving straight from final practice into knockout qualifying and preparations for a first 71-lap Grand Prix nevertheless goes beyond his original FP1 assignment. His account of compressed preparation, alongside the team’s description of the late call and traffic, gives a concrete picture of the challenge.
The dates in the team statement limit the announced assignment to Mexico. Formula1.com’s Hirakawa interview also states that Haas’s line-up for the next round in Brazil remains unconfirmed. The substitution already in effect and future seat decisions therefore require separate confirmation.
Summary
Haas has handed the remainder of the Mexico weekend to Hirakawa, bringing Ocon’s participation at this event to an early end. Hirakawa has practice mileage at this circuit and his first qualifying session behind him, but race preparation continues. The current announcement does not resolve either the reason for the switch or the line-up at subsequent rounds.
