Ryo Hirakawa will drive Jack Doohan ’s Alpine In the initial session for this weekend’s 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
The champion of the Toyota World Endurance Championship has become a reserve driver for Alpine for this season. following the fulfillment of the identical role at McLaren last year.
This action is taken due to FIA regulations stipulating that every F1 vehicle should be piloted by a driver who has participated in no more than two free practice one sessions across a season.
Hirakawa fulfilled part of this obligation for McLaren last year, making his F1 weekend debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP replacing Oscar Piastri in an MCL38.
“I'm very excited, I can’t wait to drive the A525 in Free Practice 1 this weekend,” the Japanese driver said in an Alpine team statement.
I'm reminiscing about 18 years ago when I attended my very first Japanese Grand Prix in 2007. The circuit has changed since then from Fuji, yet it still marked the presence of Formula 1 racing in Japan.
“Since then, I started my racing career and now to drive during the weekend is going to be a dream come true, I just can’t wait.
Jack Doohan, Alpine
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
I have everything set up, we conducted simulator sessions at Enstone [the team’s base] a few days back, and now I'm looking forward to enjoying this moment.
“I’m hoping the weather cooperates because we’re looking at a brief session. Regardless, I’ll make the most of it and strive to help the team with potential insights into setup adjustments. Just wanted to express my gratitude once more to all the team members for giving me this chance and providing their backing.”
Doohan, who has started his rookie season under considerable pressure due to Alpine stockpiling reserve drivers, including ex-temporary Williams racer Franco Colapinto acknowledged that Hirakawa "brings a wealth of experience here, so it will be beneficial to absorb some of his wisdom over the weekend."
Hirakawa raced in Japan’s Super Formula between 2013 and 2023 – the national single-seater championship that hits F1 speeds and races multiple times a year at Suzuka.
Ainotiunderstands that Hirakawa left McLaren’s reserve driver fold to join Alpine because he was offered a better shot at one day making an F1 bow as Piastri and Lando Norris are locked up at McLaren for several years.
Hirakawa is a two-time WEC champion with Toyota, having clinched victory in the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours right as the championship entered its Hypercar era.
His agreement with Toyota also makes him an unofficial backup driver for Haas, a team that collaborates technically with the Japanese automaker. In recent months, he has participated in season-ending and Test of Past Champions (TPC) activities for the American team.
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