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Ryō Hirakawa was classified 10th on his Formula 1 debut at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with three post-race penalties handing the Haas stand-in a championship point. The Japanese reserve driver crossed the line 13th and was unaware he had scored when speaking to media following the event.
Shock Mid-Weekend Driver Substitution
The reserve driver replaced Esteban Ocon from final practice onwards after Haas made the shock decision to stand the Frenchman down mid-weekend. The American squad offered no explanation for the change beyond confirming that it was not due to illness. Hirakawa had previously driven Ocon’s car during first practice on Friday as part of Formula 1's rookie requirement.
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Post-Race Stewards' Penalties
Both Alpine drivers received penalties after the race for failing to slow under yellow flags. Pierre Gasly’s stop-and-go penalty for ignoring double waved yellows was converted into a 30-second time penalty, dropping him from 10th to 17th. Franco Colapinto received a 10-second penalty for failing to slow under single waved yellows, dropping him from eighth to 15th. In addition, Oscar Piastri was given a 10-second penalty for a clash with Arvid Lindblad, falling out of the points from seventh. Those demotions promoted Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Isack Hadjar, with Hirakawa completing the top 10.
Patience and Late Safety Car Overtakes
Speaking prior to those stewards' verdicts, Hirakawa explained that he deliberately held back early in the race because he did not want contact and sought to complete the laps. While this cautious approach resulted in poor track positioning initially, he stayed behind rival cars to learn from them. After feeling off the pace during the opening phase, the Le Mans winner gained confidence toward the middle and end of the grand prix, ultimately overtaking two cars after a safety car restart.
Standing Starts and 2026 Racing Dynamics
The contest featured two standing starts, and Hirakawa noted that the long run toward Turn 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez proved particularly tricky. Facing numerous braking points alongside competitors to his left, right, front, and rear, he navigated the chaotic beginning cleanly. He also detailed how difficult overtaking was with the 2026 cars, explaining that speed thresholds make moves hard in a train and that a driver can make a move once the preceding car loses its overtake mode.
Physical Demands and Toyota Support
Hirakawa insisted that he was prepared for the sudden call-up despite the short notice, noting that his role was to be ready, though he admitted shaking upon hearing the news before getting down to work. He managed the physical demands of 71 laps without issue and received numerous supportive messages from Toyota, including from chairman Akio Toyoda, known as Morizo-san. Hirakawa did not know whether he would race again in Brazil, preferring to enjoy the moment of his debut result.
