Haas has announced Esteban Ocon will not drive for the team in the rest of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
Ryo Hirakawa, who took part in the opening practice session for the team yesterday, will take Ocon’s place.The team confirmed Ocon is not ill. It has not given any reason for the change and said “no further statements will be made at this time.”
Ocon is already due to leave Haas at the end of the season. Haas previously announced Ferrari junior driver Rafael Camara will take his place next year.
Hirakawa, 32, made his ninth appearance in an official F1 practice session with Haas this weekend. He has won the World Endurance Championship twice and taken victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, both with Toyota.
While Haas is yet to give any reason for Ocon’s departure, he has previously been let go by a team before the end of a season. In 2024 Alpine dropped Ocon before the final race of the year, prior to his move to Haas.
Ocon placed 13th in yesterday’s second practice session ahead of team mate Oliver Bearman. However he expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s choice of tyre strategy to his race engineer Laura Mueller.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and