Hirakawa Set to Take Over Doohan’s Alpine in Suzuka FP1
Ryo Hirakawa will step in for Jack Doohan during the first practice session of the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The Toyota World Endurance Championship (WEC) titleholder, who joined Alpine as a reserve driver this season, will get his first on-track F1 action of the year in front of his home crowd.
Hirakawa, who previously held a similar reserve role at McLaren in 2024, made his F1 weekend debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he took over Oscar Piastri’s McLaren MCL38 for a session. Now, he will get another opportunity, this time in Alpine’s A525.
Hirakawa Excited for Home GP Opportunity
Expressing his excitement, Hirakawa shared his thoughts through Alpine’s official channels:
“I’m really excited. I can’t wait to drive the A525 in FP1 this weekend,” Hirakawa said.
“I remember going to Fuji Speedway in 2007 to watch my first-ever Japanese Grand Prix. It was a different track, but seeing F1 in my home country had a huge impact on me.”
“Since then, I’ve pursued my racing career, and now to finally get out on track myself is like a dream come true. I can’t wait.”
“We’ve done all the preparations, including simulator work at Enstone just a few days ago. Now, it’s time to enjoy the moment.”
“I just hope for good weather. It will be a short session, but I’ll make the most of it, soak in the experience, and contribute as much as possible to the team’s setup work. I want to thank everyone at Alpine for this incredible opportunity and for their support.”
Doohan: Hirakawa’s Suzuka Experience Will Be Valuable
Jack Doohan also weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the value of Hirakawa’s extensive knowledge of Suzuka.
“He has a lot of experience here, so it will be good for the team to benefit from that this weekend,” Doohan noted.
Hirakawa has spent years competing in Japan’s top racing categories, including a decade in the highly competitive Super Formula series from 2013 to 2023. Given that Super Formula cars are among the closest in speed to F1 machinery, he has logged countless laps around Suzuka, making him an ideal candidate for this FP1 outing.
A Strategic Move for Hirakawa’s F1 Future?
According to Autosport, Hirakawa opted to switch from McLaren’s reserve driver role to Alpine’s setup due to better long-term prospects. At McLaren, both Piastri and Lando Norris are locked into long-term contracts, limiting his chances of securing a full-time race seat in the near future.
At Alpine, however, the situation is more fluid. With ongoing speculation about the team’s future driver lineup, Hirakawa’s decision to align himself with Alpine could be a strategic move aimed at eventually securing a permanent spot in Formula 1.
With his FP1 run at Suzuka, he now has a golden opportunity to showcase his potential in front of a passionate home crowd and further strengthen his case for a future full-time F1 seat.
