With Ryō Hirakawa’s unexpected Formula One debut at the Mexican Grand Prix over the weekend, he now can proudly say he is a Formula One driver, although he might shortly be an ex-F1 driver! That’s because this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix clashes with Hirakawa’s more important World Endurance Championship commitments with TOYOTA RACING at the final round in Italy.
Hirakawa is teammate to Sébastien Buemi and Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley in their #8 TR010 HYBRID and having secured the WEC manufacturers’ title, they have a 17-point lead in the shoot-out for the drivers’ title at the 6 Hours of Monza this Sunday 8 November 2026.
Buemi is a former F1 driver with 55 Grand Prix starts with Toro Rosso between 2009 and 2011 while Hartley drove for the same team between 2017 and 2018 competing in 25 Grand Prix. Now Hirakawa can say he also is a F1 driver.
Having participated as a rookie driver in the first practice session (FP1) at the Mexican Grand Prix last Friday, Hirakawa was unexpectedly called up to replace Esteban Ocon who was swiftly withdrawn from the Haas F1 Team. The clash this weekend will undoubtedly see him in Italy while FIA F2 driver Rafael Câmara is likely to get the nod for his F1 debut at home in Brazil this weekend. Câmara currently leads the FIA Formula 2 Championship and has been confirmed as a Haas F1 Team driver for the 2027 season.
Hirakawa was also teammate to another Kiwi, Nick Cassidy in the Japanese Super GT Series between 2016 and 2020 with Lexus Team KeePer TOM’S with Cassidy winning the title in 2017 and Hirakawa in 2017.
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