F1 star replaced for Mexican Grand Prix weekend in shock late driver change

Haas F1 star Esteban Ocon has been replaced for the remainder of Mexican Grand Prix weekend in a shocking driver change.

The news broke early on Saturday in the Mexican capital that the 30-year-old Frenchman is OUT and will be replaced by Japanese ace Ryo Hirakawa.

At this stage there are no details about why Haas have made the change, with the team announcing the move in a short statement. Haas did though confirm the change is NOT due to illness.

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Haas statement on Ocon replacement

It read: "TGR Haas F1 Team reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, Saturday 31 October - Sunday 1 November.

"Hirakawa (32), a two-time winner of the FIA World Endurance Championship (2022, 2023) and 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner (2022) with Toyota GAZOO Racing, participated in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Friday 30 October - his third free practice outing of the season driving the VF-26, finishing 15th overall.

"The Japanese driver will partner teammate Ollie Bearman through final practice and qualifying on Saturday and Sunday’s 71-lap grand prix - Hirakawa’s Formula 1 race debut.

"No further statements will be made at this time."

Ocon on the way out at Haas

The shocking Ocon news comes a month after it was announced that he would leave Haas at the end of the 2026 season.

At this stage the team only has one driver officially contracted for 2027 - that is Brazilian prodigy Rafael Camara.

Young Brit Ollie Bearman is favourite to drive alongside him in 2027 but there has still been no official announcement about a contract extension.

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