Haas has welcomed Ryo Hirakawa into its Formula 1 line-up as official reserve, with the Japanese driver departing Alpine.
Hirakawa, 31, was most recently a part of the Alpine reserve line-up and participated in Free Practice 1 at last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Before then, he participated in the Abu Dhabi post-season test with Haas and opening practice at Yas Marina with McLaren.
His racing experience is predominantly on the endurance scene with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hypercar squad in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Hirakawa won the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 and is a two-time Hypercar champion with further experience in Super Formula and Super GT.
The Japanese driver joins Haas as official reserve driver as part of the team’s technical alliance with Toyota and will contest four FP1 sessions with the team, starting in Bahrain this weekend in place of Oliver Bearman.
Hirakawa will replace Bearman again at Mexico City along with taking Esteban Ocon’s seat in Spain and Abu Dhabi.
Hirakawa relishing opportunity with Haas
After gaining experience with three F1 teams in recent months, Hirakwa is looking forward to his settled programme with Haas.
“I’m excited to join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, I really appreciate this opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to a new journey with the team,” Hirakawa said.
“I’m driving my first FP1 session in Bahrain, so for me to have driven at two race weekends in a row is exciting, and I can’t wait to get to Bahrain.
“I would like to thank Komatsu-san, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, Morizo-san [Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation] and Toyota GAZOO Racing for this opportunity, it’s a new challenge for me and I can’t wait to get started.”
Likewise, Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is happy to welcome Hirakawa into the fold.
“It’s great to welcome Ryō to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and have his experience bolster our knowledge and understanding of the VF-25,” said.
“His feedback was very detailed at the post-season test last year, so being able to provide Ryō valuable track time across four different circuits this year will help the entire team.
As part of our collaboration with Toyota GAZOO Racing, it’s great to welcome new talent into the team – it’s a real pleasure to work with a racer of his driving acumen.”
READ MORE – Haas confirms Esteban Ocon and Ryo Hirakawa for F1 post-season test
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