Ryo Hirakawa turned a last-minute Haas call-up into a points-scoring Formula 1 debut at the Mexico City Grand Prix. He finished 13th on the road before penalties for Oscar Piastri and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly lifted him to 10th. For the 32-year-old, simply reaching the finish was the goal; he called the debut a dream.

By the Numbers
  • Hirakawa started 18th after a penalty moved him up one spot from his 19th-place qualifying result.
  • He finished 10th after completing the 71-lap race, earning points on his F1 debut.
Yes, But

Hirakawa said he took extra care at the start because finishing the race and learning were his priorities. He also noted Haas lacked pace during his first stint, though he gained confidence after the Safety Car and passed two cars.

State of Play
  • Haas has not confirmed its driver lineup for the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix.
  • Hirakawa was scheduled to race for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship, where the title is still undecided.
What's Next

Hirakawa’s availability for Brazil depends on Haas’s decision and his Toyota commitments. He said he wants to savor the Mexico City moment and see what comes next.

Bottom Line

A late opportunity became a top-10 debut, but Hirakawa’s next F1 start is far from guaranteed.