Hirakawa joins Haas F1 as 2025 reserve driver, departing Alpine

Dominika Jordan
Apr 7, 2025, 12:58 AM ET

Ryo Hirakawa joins Haas F1 as reserve driver for 2025, debuting at Bahrain GP after Alpine exit.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

The Haas Formula 1 team has officially announced the signing of Ryo Hirakawa as its reserve driver for the 2025 season. Hirakawa, an accomplished World Endurance Championship driver with Toyota, transitions from his role at Alpine to the American team due to Haas' technical alliance with Toyota.

This year, Hirakawa was part of Alpine's reserve driver lineup and participated in the first practice in Japan, replacing Jack Doohan. However, as a result of the Haas-Toyota collaboration, Hirakawa will now fill all four rookie FP1 slots for Haas, beginning with this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. In Bahrain, he will take over Oliver Bearman's car, followed by sessions in Mexico, Barcelona, and Abu Dhabi, where he will also step in for Esteban Ocon.

“I’m excited to join 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 [team principal Ayao] Komatsu-san, 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.”

Hirakawa's involvement in Formula 1 began with McLaren in 2023 and included a Haas test in Abu Dhabi last year. This participation is part of Toyota's strategy to provide its top-line drivers with exposure to Formula 1, even though the company has not been active as an F1 works team since 2009. Toyota remains significant in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where Hirakawa has excelled, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2022 and securing two world championship titles in the top class. His extensive single-seater experience also includes time in Japan's domestic Super Formula category.

“It’s great to welcome Ryo to Haas F1 Team and have his experience bolster our knowledge and understanding of the VF-25,” said team boss Komatsu. “His feedback was very detailed at the post-season test last year, so being able to provide Ryo 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.”

Following Hirakawa's departure, Alpine retains three reserve drivers for the remainder of the season: former Williams driver Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron, and Kush Maini.