Haas swaps Ocon for Hirakawa at Mexico City Grand Prix

Team confirms driver change

Haas announced that Esteban Ocon will not drive in the race on Saturday or Sunday. The team stated it provided no reason for this decision and confirmed Ocon was not ill. Ryo Hirakawa, a two-time endurance champion, will take his place on the grid.

Dispute over tyre strategy

Ocon expressed frustration during second practice after engineers switched him to medium tyres instead of soft ones. He argued with race engineer Laura Mueller about the plan before being told to accept the change. The French driver later vented his anger on the team radio.

Season ends for Ocon

Haas confirmed that Ocon will leave the squad at the end of the season on 31 October. He is currently seeking a new race seat for next year but faces limited options. Hirakawa remains with the team to complete the weekend events.