Toyota-backed Driver Ryo Hirakawa Eyes F1 Race Seat Amidst Haas Role

Toyota-backed Formula 1 test driver Ryo Hirakawa, at 31, believes his current role with Haas is the right path to securing a full-time F1 race seat. After starting the year with Alpine, Hirakawa joined Haas in April as a test and reserve driver, participating in multiple FP1 sessions.

Why it matters:

As Formula 1 continues to prioritize young talent, a 31-year-old rookie securing a full-time seat would be an outlier, highlighting a unique development path through Toyota's strategic partnership with Haas. This endeavor could open new doors for experienced drivers from other motorsport disciplines and solidify Toyota's presence in F1 driver development.

The Details:

• Haas Partnership: Hirakawa's F1 experience is a key part of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s technical partnership with Haas, which aims to develop both drivers and engineers.
• Extensive F1 Testing: This year, Hirakawa has driven for Alpine at his home Japanese Grand Prix and for Haas in FP1 sessions in Bahrain, Spain, and Mexico. He also conducted 2023 car testing, despite a recent crash at Zandvoort attributed to a "car issue."
• WEC Champion: Hirakawa is a World Endurance Champion and a Le Mans 24 Hours winner with Toyota, showcasing his prowess in top-tier endurance racing.
• Age Challenge: At 31, Hirakawa faces an uphill battle. If he were to secure a race seat next year, he would be the oldest debutant since Andre Lotterer (32 in 2014 for a one-off) and the oldest full-time rookie since Yuji Ide (31 in 2006).
• Team Outlook: Haas currently has Ferrari-backed Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon on multi-year contracts. Hirakawa is expected to remain with Haas in 2025, pushing any potential race seat opportunity to 2027, when he would be 33.
  • Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu acknowledges Hirakawa's professional approach and commitment, stating the team will "keep building onto that" as they assess his development.
• Toyota's Program: Hirakawa notes that Toyota's driver development program is "getting bigger and better," providing benefits that aid his performance in WEC by applying F1's detailed approach to car improvement.

What's next:

Hirakawa's path to a race seat hinges on continuously impressing Haas and potentially an expanded involvement from Toyota in the team. His ability to translate his endurance racing success into F1 performance during test sessions will be crucial. While challenging, this initiative could pave the way for a unique F1 career at an age when most drivers are already established or retired.