The TGR Haas F1 Team shared on social media early Sunday morning that Esteban Ocon would be replaced by Ryō Hirakawa for the remainder of the weekend.

Hirakawa already drove in Free Practice 1 ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix in a 10-rookie-stacked field, finishing 15th-fastest overall and fifth-fastest among the rookies.

This will be Hirakawa’s F1 debut, a week before he battles with his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates for the 2026 driver title in the World Endurance Challenge. Hirakawa is a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and has served as Haas’ reserve driver since 2025.

Hirakawa becomes the oldest driver to start their first F1 race since Andre Lotterer in the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, who was filling in for Hirakawa’s now WEC Toyota teammate Kamui Kobayashi.

Hirakawa was one of the names reportedly shortlisted for Ocon’s seat in 2027 before it ultimately went to Rafael Câmara.

This weekend, the F1 paddock has already seen two drivers sidelined with illness, with Kimi Antonelli stepping away from a championship being allowed out of media availability with a viral bug, followed by hometown hero Sergio Perez having to sit out Friday.

But Haas has not released whether Ocon’s absence is for a similar reason and says that ‘no further statements will be made at this time.’

Victoria Beaver is a nomadic sports writer who spends her time hopping between race tracks and hippie farms. She’s covered every corner of motorsports that will let her in from 410 Sprints to NASCAR to Supercross. Her daily driver is a 2010 Subaru that she refused to do the smallest amount of preventative maintenance on. Instead, she spends her free time and money building a 42-foot Skoolie to one day travel the country full time.