Haas F1 Team reserve driver and Toyota protégé, Ryo Hirakawa now considers that he has shown everything he could to convince the team to offer him a place in Formula 1 in 2027.
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Still in the running after three test sessions, the Japanese driver believes that his extensive single-seater experience could work in his favor against the other candidates.
Haas continues its evaluation of several drivers for its future line-up and Ryo Hirakawa (32 years old) feels he has fully seized the opportunities offered to him against the young Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Câmara (both 21), as well as Jack Doohan (23) on track in Jerez this week.
Hirakawa bets on his experience
The Japanese driver was particularly satisfied with his recent test in Portimão and believes he has now done what is necessary to prove he is ready to become a full-time Formula 1 driver: “After three tests, I am still a candidate, which is really positive. We just have to keep pushing and see what happens.”
A place on the grid remains obviously his goal, with the Japanese driver reminding that it is a seat every driver wants to secure. Against the other candidates likely to replace Esteban Ocon, Hirakawa believes he has an important advantage: his competition experience.
Japanese Formula 3 champion in 2012, he then spent nine seasons racing in single-seaters in Super Formula before joining Toyota’s program in the World Endurance Championship in 2022. Since his arrival in WEC, Hirakawa has notably won the world drivers’ title twice.
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“I spent many years in Super Formula, so I have experience, he emphasizes. I may have more new circuits to learn than the other drivers, but I also have this experience. We will see.”
Haas has not yet made its choice and Hirakawa therefore remains in the running after his various tests. However, the Japanese driver prefers not to be distracted by discussions about his future.
Priority to WEC before discussing with Haas
On the occasion of this weekend’s Lone Star Le Mans in Austin, Hirakawa wanted above all to focus on Toyota’s ambitions in the WEC: “This race is very important for me and for the team in terms of the championship. So I am focusing only on this weekend and maybe next week I will have some discussions about F1.”
His future could also have significant consequences for Toyota’s Endurance program. Sportscar365 indicates that a possible departure of Hirakawa would obviously force the Japanese manufacturer to find a replacement for him. The young Frenchman Esteban Masson is mentioned, but the media also reports that Kevin Estre, official Porsche driver, should join Toyota in 2027 to take Mike Conway’s place.
For Hirakawa, the situation therefore remains open. After three tests with Haas, the Japanese driver believes he has sufficiently demonstrated his qualities and now counts on his experience to make the difference, awaiting further discussions about a possible arrival on the F1 grid.
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