Hirakawa: Traffic denied 'easy' Q2 on Haas F1 debut

Ryo Hirakawa believes a clean final lap would have put him comfortably into Q2 on his Formula 1 qualifying debut at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, after traffic disrupted his best attempt for Haas. The Japanese driver was standing in for Esteban Ocon, who was stood down from driving duties, and had shown enough pace in the opening sector to target a surprise progression.

Why it matters:

Hirakawa's claim is more than a debutant's frustration. Haas needed a reliable benchmark after Ocon's sudden absence, and the two-time World Endurance Championship winner's immediate speed suggested he could handle F1's midfield pressure. A Q2 appearance would have been a notable result for a substitute with limited preparatory running.

The details:

• Hirakawa set a personal-best first sector and was aiming to reach Q3 at Carlos Sainz's expense before his lap unraveled.
• He caught Alex Albon through the high-speed section, losing downforce, then found Franco Colapinto in the final part of the lap.
• 'I could have been, I'll say easily to Q2, which is a very, very big shame,' he said. 'But still it's nice to be here.'
• Most of his FP3 program was focused on qualifying, leaving Sunday's race something of an unknown. He drove in FP1, which helped him avoid starting from zero.
• He leads the WEC standings with Toyota's #8 crew by 25 points, but declined to discuss whether next week's Monza finale would affect his F1 availability.

What's next:

Hirakawa's priority is a clean start and a safe opening corner on Sunday. Beyond that, he refused to look ahead: 'I'm just focused on tomorrow.' Haas will hope his measured debut can translate into race execution, even as Ocon's situation remains unresolved.