Hirakawa replaces Ocon for Mexico City Grand Prix

Published21 minutes ago

Esteban Ocon has been replaced at Haas by the team's Japanese reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.

Ocon, who is leaving the team at the end of the year, drove in Friday practice but the team released a statement on Saturday saying Hirakawa would drive instead of the Frenchman on Saturday and Sunday.

The team gave no further details about the reasons behind the decision, although a spokesperson at Haas said it was not because the Frenchman was ill.

The move comes after Ocon had a dispute with his race engineer Laura Mueller during second practice on Friday about tyre strategy.

Mueller told him over the radio that they were switching him to use the medium tyres on his race-simulation run because team-mate Oliver Bearman's run on the soft was "not great".

After Ocon asked for clarity, Mueller told him: "We have to do medium."

Ocon replied: "No, no. I wanted the soft. Don't do that to me. Come on."

Haas declined to comment on whether the decision to replace Ocon was related to the exchange and whatever aftermath it might have had.

Ocon is currently looking for a race seat for next year and it appears his chances are slim.

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Only Cadillac and Racing Bulls have theoretical openings, but neither are said to be interested in him.

Hirakawa, 32, will be making his grand prix debut in Mexico. He is a two-time winner of the World Endurance Championship with Toyota, which is Haas' technical partner and title sponsor.

Hirakawa also drove in first practice on Friday in Mexico in Ocon's car.

Ocon is being replaced next year at Haas by Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara, a member of the Ferrari development driver programme.

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