In an exciting turn of events, Alpine F1’s Jack Doohan will be replaced by Ryo Hirakawa for the FP1 session at the upcoming 2025 Japanese Grand Prix this weekend. Despite a promising start to his F1 career, the Australian driver has struggled to translate his speed into points during the first races in Australia and China. With mixed results, Doohan currently finds himself in P18 in the driver standings, yet to score any points.
Hirakawa, a homegrown favorite, is set to step in as one of the two mandatory free practice sessions for junior drivers. The 31-year-old driver from Hiroshima expressed his excitement about driving the A525, adding a sense of anticipation among local fans eager to see their hero in action at the Suzuka International Circuit. Hirakawa is part of Alpine’s reserve drivers this year, alongside talents like Franco Colapinto, Kush Maini, and Paul Aron. Notably, Hirakawa had the opportunity to drive the MCL38 in Abu Dhabi during last year’s FP1 session.
Jack Doohan, though stepping aside for Hirakawa, remains keen to learn from this unique opportunity. He hopes to gather valuable insights from Hirakawa’s experience and performance over the weekend. Quoting F1.com, Doohan highlighted his intention to inherit knowledge and insights from Hirakawa’s FP1 run.
Apart from his association with Alpine, Hirakawa competes in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing. His achievements in the series include victories at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 and 2023, underscoring his versatility and skill as a driver.
The decision to replace Jack Doohan, at least temporarily, with Ryo Hirakawa for the FP1 session has generated widespread enthusiasm and support, particularly among Japanese fans. As the racing world turns its eyes towards Suzuka, the performance and potential impacts of this change will be keenly observed by fans and analysts alike, adding an extra layer of excitement to the weekend’s proceedings.
