Ryo Hirakawa has replaced Esteban Ocon as one of the Haas starting drivers at the Mexican Grand Prix, the team announced on Saturday.
"TGR Haas F1 Team reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa will replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix," the team announced on their website.
"The Japanese driver will partner teammate Ollie Bearman through final practice and qualifying on Saturday and Sunday's 71-lap Grand Prix – Hirakawa's Formula 1 race debut," added the team in a brief statement.
Haas later clarified that the 30-year-old Frenchman was not ill.
Hirakawa is 32. He was World Endurance Champion in 2022 and 2023 driving for Toyota, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022. Toyota is a partner of Haas.
On Friday, Ocon posted the 13th-fastest time in practice, ahead of Bearman.
Haas announced last month that Ocon would be leaving at the end of the season. They then said that Rafael Camara, a 21-year-old Brazilian, would take the vacant seat next season.
This is Ocon's tenth season in Formula 1. In 198 races, he has one victory, in Hungary in 2021, and three other podium finishes, all achieved with Renault/Alpine.
His most recent podium finish came in November 2024, when he was second in Brazil.