Hirakawa leaves Alpine to become Haas F1 reserve driver in 2025

The Haas Formula 1 team has announced it has signed Ryo Hirakawa as its reserve driver for 2025 with the Toyota endurance star moving from Alpine.

Hirakawa was part of Alpine’s reserve driver roster for this year, taking part in Friday’s first practice in Japan instead of Jack Doohan.

But as part of Toyota’s technical alliance with Haas, Hirakawa will now move across to the American team for the remainder of the season.

Hirakawa will take care of all four rookie FP1 slots for Haas, starting at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix where he steps into Oliver Bearman’s car.

The 31-year-old Japanese will also deputise for Bearman in Mexico, and will replace Esteban Ocon in Barcelona and Abu Dhabi FP1.

“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,” the double World Endurance Championship champion 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 F1 duties, which started at McLaren in 2023 and also included a Haas test in Abu Dhabi last year, form part of Toyota’s goal to expose more of its top-line driver talent to F1 opportunities, with the Japanese marque absent as a works team since the end of 2009.

Instead, Toyota has been a mainstay of WEC and its blue-riband Le Mans 24 Hours. Hirakawa won the event with Toyota in 2022 having also claimed the WEC title that year and in 2023. He also boasts plenty of single-seater experience 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 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 still has three reserve drivers at its disposal this year – former Williams driver Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron and Kush Maini.