F1: Haas Confirms Esteban Ocon and Ryo Hirakawa for Post-Season Testing
Ocon and Alpine announced after the Qatar Grand Prix that they would part ways one race early, allowing the Frenchman to begin working with his new team as soon as possible.
By Divyam Dubey
Haas F1 Team has confirmed that Esteban Ocon will make his debut with the team during the post-season Abu Dhabi test. He will be joined by Toyota World Endurance Championship driver Ryo Hirakawa. Ocon, who recently signed a multi-year deal with Haas during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, will be released early from his Alpine contract. As a result, Jack Doohan will substitute for him at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This early release will allow Ocon to focus on preparing for his test with Haas. The French driver has been impressed by Team Principal Ayao Komatsu’s vision and the team's new technical alliance with Toyota, which he believes will propel Haas to new heights.
Also Read: F1 Confirms Zandvoort to Host its Last Race in 2026
In a farewell message for Ocon, Alpine said: 'The team would like to thank Esteban for his time at the team and he will remain part of the team’s history achieving the first win for Alpine in Formula 1. We wish Esteban the best for the future.'
Toyota Driver in F1
Ryo Hirakawa, a Toyota Gazoo Racing Hypercar program driver, will fulfil the Haas F1 Team's rookie driver requirement for the post-season test. He will also participate in FP1 for McLaren, replacing Oscar Piastri.
This dual opportunity highlights the Haas-Toyota partnership. The technical alliance, announced earlier this year, focuses on engineering collaboration, driver development, and exchange. Hirakawa's involvement in both teams signifies the depth of this collaboration.
Also Read: F1: Alpine Confirms Doohan for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Ocon Released for Haas
A two-time World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar champion and 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Hirakawa has achieved success in endurance racing. At 30 years old, he is poised to make his mark in Formula 1.
By participating in both Haas and McLaren sessions, Hirakawa will gain insights into modern Formula 1 cars and teams. This experience could potentially open doors to future opportunities in Formula 1.
