Japanese racing star Ryo Hirakawa has been named the official reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for the remainder of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The announcement, made on April 7, 2025, comes just days after Hirakawa’s notable FP1 appearance for Alpine at the Japanese Grand Prix, marking a swift transition between rival teams.
Hirakawa, a 31-year-old Toyota-backed driver with an impressive resume, brings a wealth of experience to Haas. A two-time World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar champion and the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, he has also competed extensively in Super Formula and Super GT. His prior F1 experience includes stints as a reserve driver for McLaren in 2024 and a standout performance during Haas’s post-season test in Abu Dhabi last December, driving the VF-24. Now, he steps into a key role supporting Haas’s full-time drivers, Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman.
As part of his new position, Hirakawa will participate in four FP1 sessions throughout the 2025 season, starting with this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, where he will replace Bearman in Friday’s opening practice. Additional outings are scheduled in Mexico City, Barcelona, and Abu Dhabi, with Hirakawa splitting time between Bearman’s and Ocon’s cars to fulfill the team’s mandatory rookie running requirements. His eligibility stems from never having started an F1 Grand Prix, despite his growing presence in the sport.
“I’m excited to join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team,” Hirakawa said in a statement. “I really appreciate this opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to a new journey with the team. I’d like to thank Komatsu-san, MoneyGram 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.”
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu praised Hirakawa’s addition, highlighting his technical insight and versatility. “It’s great to welcome Ryo to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and have his experience bolster our knowledge and understanding of the VF-25,” Komatsu said. “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 a real pleasure to work with a racer of his driving acumen.”
Hirakawa’s move to Haas follows a brief stint with Alpine, where he joined as a reserve driver in January 2025 and drove in FP1 at Suzuka on April 4. His departure from the French outfit leaves Alpine with a robust reserve pool, including Paul Aron, Kush Maini, and Franco Colapinto, but underscores Haas’s strategic intent to deepen ties with Toyota Gazoo Racing, their technical partner since late 2024. The partnership has already seen Toyota junior Ritomo Miyata conduct testing for Haas earlier this year, signaling a pipeline of Japanese talent into the American squad.