Ryo Hirakawa to Replace Esteban Ocon for Austrian GP FP1 at Haas

Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will take over Esteban Ocon's car for first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend as the American team satisfies Formula 1's mandatory rookie driver requirements. The 32-year-old Japanese racer, who joined Haas last year through the squad's technical partnership with Toyota, will make his 2026 FP1 debut at the Red Bull Ring on Friday.

Why it matters:

The session swap ensures Haas remains compliant with regulations requiring teams to run drivers who have started no more than two grands prix in at least four FP1 sessions per season, split between both race cars. While Ocon loses valuable setup time, the team keeps its 2026 rookie program on track and gains additional data from a different driver perspective.

The details:

• Hirakawa has served as Haas's reserve since late 2024 and made four FP1 appearances for the team last season in Bahrain, Spain, Mexico and Abu Dhabi.
• He previously ran practice sessions for McLaren and Alpine, bringing varied experience despite never having started a grand prix.
• The outing comes shortly after Hirakawa finished third for Toyota at the Le Mans 24 Hours, where the sister car claimed overall victory.
• Haas has scored 21 points in the opening seven races of 2026, with Ocon managing three to teammate Oliver Bearman's 18.

What's next:

Ocon will return to his VF-26 for the remainder of the weekend, including qualifying and Sunday's race. The session gives Hirakawa another opportunity to impress as Haas and Toyota continue their growing motorsport collaboration.