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Esteban Ocon: Haas replace French driver with Ryo Hirakawa for remainder of Mexico City GP weekend without providing reason
Esteban Ocon will take no further part in the Mexico City GP, with Haas replacing French driver with Ryo Hirakawa; Haas gave no reason for Ocon's replacement; Ocon is leaving the team at the end of the season
Saturday 31 October 2026 15:51, UK
Esteban Ocon has been replaced by Ryo Hirakawa at Haas for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The team provided no reason for replacing Ocon, but confirmed the Frenchman was not suffering from illness.
Haas recently confirmed that Ocon will be leaving the team at the end of this season after two years with the American-owned squad, with Brazilian youngster Rafael Camara signed as his replacement.
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A team statement read: "TGR Haas F1 Team reserve driver Ryō Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix, Saturday 31 October - Sunday 1 November."
Ocon questioned the team's decision to run him on the medium rather than soft tyre during second practice on Friday.
The Frenchman pleaded "don't do this to me" to his race engineer Laura Mueller after being informed of a change to his run-plan.
Ocon had originally been set to do his race simulation on a soft tyre, but the fact his team-mate Oliver Bearman flat-spotted his soft tyres meant the team instead wanted Ocon to use a medium compound.
Hirakawa will make his F1 qualifying and race debut following nine practice session appearances, the most recent of which came when he drove in Friday's opening session in Mexico City in place of Ocon.
The 32-year-old Japanese driver's appearance in first practice was pre-planned as one of the team's obligated rookie sessions for the season.
The team statement continued: "Hirakawa, a two-time winner of the FIA World Endurance Championship (2022, 2023) and 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner (2022) with Toyota Gazoo Racing, participated in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Friday 30 October - his third free practice outing of the season driving the VF-26, finishing 15th overall.
"The Japanese driver will partner teammate Ollie Bearman through final practice and qualifying on Saturday and Sunday's 71-lap grand prix - Hirakawa's Formula 1 race debut."
Sky Sports F1's live Mexico City GP schedule
Saturday October 31
5.15pm: Mexico City Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm)
8pm: Mexico City Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
9pm: MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
11pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 1
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP build-up
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP reaction
11pm: Ted's Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Mexico City where Kimi Antonelli could win the Drivers' Championship in Sunday's race at 8pm (build-up from 6.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
