Haas Makes Shock Driver Swap: Ocon Out, Hirakawa In for Mexico FP3

Haas has made the stunning decision to bench Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, handing the FP3 seat to reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa. The announcement came ahead of final practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Ocon understood to be fully fit.

Why it matters:

This is a highly unusual mid-weekend driver change for a team not dealing with illness or injury. It signals potential internal turmoil at Haas or a strategic gamble to evaluate Hirakawa, the Toyota-backed Japanese driver, in a competitive session. Ocon, a race winner with Alpine, joined Haas for 2025 but has yet to score a point this season.

The details:

• Hirakawa will take over the VF-25 for FP3, with Ocon's status for qualifying and the race uncertain.
• The team has not cited any health issues for Ocon, fueling speculation about performance-related decisions or contractual obligations.
• Hirakawa, a former Super Formula champion and Toyota WEC driver, has limited F1 experience but impressed in his previous FP1 outings.
• The timing is critical as teams finalize setups for qualifying, and a driver change disrupts continuity.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Hirakawa's performance in FP3 and whether Haas confirms him for the rest of the weekend. Ocon's future with the team could also come under scrutiny if this is more than a one-off. The official reason for the swap remains unclear, but the paddock is buzzing with theories.