FIA gives Haas final approval after major driver swap at Mexico City GP
Photo: Race Pictures
Ludo van Denderen is a motorsport journalist at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 and international racing series.
The FIA have officially given Haas permission to replace Esteban Ocon with Ryo Hirakawa for the Mexico Grand Prix.
Haas had submitted a request to the stewards to replace Ocon. The stewards have now approved the request, according to an official FIA document. "The stewards have received a request from TGR Haas F1 Team to replace the driver of car number 31, Esteban Ocon," the document states.
"In accordance with Article B1.7.2 of the FIA F1 Regulations, the Stewards grant permission for the driver, Ryo Hirakawa, with the car number 50, to participate in the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon for the rest of the competition."
Hirakawa takes over Ocon's car
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The FIA has also set out the conditions under which Hirakawa may compete. The Japanese driver must use the engine and tyres originally assigned to Ocon.
"The driver of car 50 is required to use the engine and tyres which were allocated to the original driver, Esteban Ocon as detailed under Article B1.7.5 of the FIA F1 Regulations. Further, this permission is subject to Ryo Hirakawa passing the scrutineering requirements."
The FIA's official confirmation follows the news that Ocon has been dropped by Haas ahead of schedule. Haas has not officially provided any further explanation for the driver change. GPblog understands that a disciplinary measure has been imposed following tensions between the Frenchman and the American team.
Ocon was due to leave Haas after the season anyway, with Rafael Camara named as his successor. The split is now taking place a few weeks earlier than planned.
Following Friday’s practice sessions, long-simmering frustrations over Ocon’s performance and, in turn, his dissatisfaction with the way Haas was sending him packing are understood to have boiled over. The exact details of what happened at Haas are likely to become clearer over the coming days.
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