The F1 2025 has seen some major driver shake-ups, including Yuki Tsunoda replacing Liam Lawson in Red Bull Racing. It hasn’t even been 72 hours since the Japanese Grand Prix ended, and we have another buzz in the driver lineup. Japanese racing star Ryo Hirakawa has switched from Alpine to Haas as their official reserve driver for the remainder of the 2025 season. This announcement was made just hours after the end of the Japanese GP, marking a significant shift in Hirakawa’s career.
Ryo Hirakawa is a seasoned driver with numerous accolades, including a 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours victory and two Hypercar Championship titles. His experience expands Super Formula, Super GT, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. However, despite an amazing resume, he hasn’t secured a permanent F1 seat. He replaced Jack Doohan for the FP1 at the Suzuka Circuit, where he could not perform very well and finished in 12th position. However, the decision wasn’t taken considering his abilities, but simply because they had to give a chance to a reserve driver according to the FIA’s regulations.
On 7 April 2025, Haas officially announced Hirakawa as their reserve driver for the remainder of the season. The decision was made after weeks of negotiations between Alpine and Haas. Talks reportedly began before the Japanese Grand Prix but were finalized only after he completed his FP1 duties.
Team Principal Guenther Steiner expressed his excitement as Ryo Hirakawa joined their team: “While we are disappointed to see Ryo leave, we wish him success at Haas. His contributions during his time with us were invaluable.”
The decision comes at a great time as Haas lacked an official reserve driver seat before signing Hirakawa.
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Hirakawa himself also shared his excitement for the same and said, “It is an honor to join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team as their reserve driver. I look forward to contributing my experience across multiple racing disciplines and helping develop the VF-25 throughout the season.”
Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes shared his opinion on Ryo Hirakawa’s departure and said, “While we are disappointed to see Ryo leave, we wish him success at Haas. His contributions during his time with us were invaluable.”
