Hirakawa Finishes 10th in Haas F1 Debut
Japan's Ryo Hirakawa scored a point in his first Formula 1 start, replacing Esteban Ocon at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Motorsports
Ryo Hirakawa finished 10th in his Formula 1 debut with Haas at the Mexico City Grand Prix, earning one point. He took over the seat from Esteban Ocon after being named as a replacement on Saturday.
Why it matters
The result gives Haas a point and offers a rare chance for a reserve driver to show results in a race seat. Hirakawa rose from 18th on the grid to 10th, helped in part by post-race penalties applied to other drivers.
Hirakawa started 18th and finished 10th, earning one point, while his position improved from 13th to 10th after post-race penalties to other drivers. The stub does not indicate whether he will keep the seat for future rounds.
The players
Ryo Hirakawa
A 32-year-old Japanese driver from Hiroshima Prefecture who has been a Haas reserve driver since 2025 and previously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022.
Esteban Ocon
A French Formula 1 driver who was replaced by Hirakawa for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli
An Italian Formula 1 driver who was crowned champion at age 20 and finished third in the Mexico City race.
The details
Hirakawa, 32, has served as a Haas reserve driver since 2025 and took over from Esteban Ocon on Saturday. He previously competed in the World Endurance Championship and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022.
Timeline
Saturday: Hirakawa was named to replace Esteban Ocon for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Sunday: Hirakawa finished 10th in his Formula 1 debut.
Season Trajectory
A reserve driver scoring a point on debut adds a small but notable data point to Haas's constructor standings during a season where midfield positions carry real value. The result highlights how late-season driver changes can shift team points totals.
Hirakawa's point affects Haas's constructor total for the season, which matters to fans tracking team standings. Fantasy and betting readers should note that his seat beyond this race has not been confirmed in the source.
The takeaway
Reserve drivers who step into race seats can change team results quickly, so watch lineup announcements closely.
Further reading
For more on Formula 1 team lineups and race results, see Motorsports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kyodo News+.
