In a shocking turn of events, Ryo Hirakawa will be taking the wheel of Jack Doohan’s Alpine in the opening practice session for the upcoming 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The highly decorated Toyota World Endurance Championship champion has been appointed as a reserve driver for Alpine this season, following his stint in the same role at McLaren last year.
Hirakawa, who made his F1 weekend debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, is set to fulfill the first of four mandatory rookie outings in grands prix per team this year, with two opportunities in each car. The Japanese driver expressed his excitement in a statement released by Alpine, stating, “I’m very excited, I can’t wait to drive the A525 in Free Practice 1 this weekend.”
Having previously raced in Japan’s Super Formula between 2013 and 2023, Hirakawa brings a wealth of experience to the table, especially at the iconic Suzuka circuit where he has competed multiple times. His decision to join Alpine came after leaving McLaren’s reserve driver program, as he saw a better opportunity to eventually make his F1 debut with Alpine.
On the other hand, Doohan finds himself under mounting pressure as Alpine has been accumulating reserve drivers, including former Williams racer Franco Colapinto. Acknowledging Hirakawa’s experience, Doohan mentioned, “He has a lot of experience here so it will be good to take some of that knowledge for the weekend.”
Hirakawa’s impressive track record includes being a double WEC champion with Toyota, clinching victory at the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours at the inception of the Hypercar era. Additionally, his association with Toyota also positions him as an unofficial reserve driver for Haas due to their technical partnership, paving the way for potential F1 opportunities in the future.
The upcoming F1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka is sure to be a thrilling event with Hirakawa stepping into the spotlight for Alpine, promising an electrifying practice session that fans won’t want to miss.
