Ryo Hirakawa is set to replace Jack Doohan in another F1 shakeup ahead of the Japanese GP after Liam Lawson got replaced with Yuki Tsunoda last week. As confirmed by Alpine, he will be driving Alpine’s F1 car in the first practice session at Suzuka.
The decision is part of a broader strategy to provide rookie drivers with the necessary experience due to the FIA regulations that require every F1 team to give at least two FP1 sessions per season to rookie or reserve drivers with no more than two GP starts.
Ryo Hirakawa is a seasoned driver with experience in various motorsport categories. His major victories include winning the FIA WEC Hypercar championships twice and securing the Le Mans in 2022. He made his debut with McLaren at the Abu Dhabi GP in 2023, he will now take over Doohan’s car for the upcoming Japanese GP FP1, which is set to begin this weekend, on 4 April.
This could mark a significant moment in his career if he did well, and he expressed his excitement, “I have got everything prepared, we did simulator work in Enstone a few days ago, and I’m going to enjoy the moment. Hopefully, the weather is good, it will be a short session, but I will enjoy it and do my best for the team to hopefully input some direction on set up. I just want to add my appreciation to everyone at the team for the opportunity and support.”
Ryo Hirakawa joined Alpine’s strong lineup of reserve drivers along with F2 race winner Paul Aron, Franco Colapinto, and Kush Maini.
Jack Doohan’s replacement for FP1 at the Japanese GP stems from multiple factors, including Alpine’s strategic decisions and mounting pressure on his performance. He has had an underwhelming performance until now finishing in 13th place in the Chinese GP while also retaining a 10-second penalty.
This replacement could also mean bad news for Jack Doohan, as he reportedly has a six-race clause in his contract, allowing Alpine to replace him if results are unsatisfactory. Additionally, Alpine also signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver, fueling speculations about Doohan’s long-term future at Alpine.
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Also Read: Kush Maini Makes History: Joins Alpine F1 Team as Test and Reserve Driver
