The sporting regulations require each full-time driver to make way for a rookie in one free practice session during the season. A rookie is defined as a driver who has participated in no more than two Formula 1 races. After Lando Norris gave up his McLaren seat to Pato O’Ward during FP1 at the Mexican GP, it will now be Oscar Piastri’s turn to do the same in Abu Dhabi. Taking the seat in the Australian’s MCL38 will be Ryo Hirakawa.
The 30-year-old Japanese driver is well-known to motorsport enthusiasts as an official Toyota driver in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Since 2022, Hirakawa has been one of the three drivers of Toyota’s #8 Hypercar. In his debut season, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and became the WEC world champion, a title he successfully defended the following year.
Toyota decided to promote Hirakawa following his impressive performances in Japan. He won the Super GT title in 2017 and finished second in the Super Formula championship in 2020. He later joined the McLaren family as a reserve and development driver in September 2023.
Since then, Hirakawa has driven McLaren’s 2021 MCL35M and 2022 MCL36 in various private test sessions. Additionally, he has played a key role in simulator development at the McLaren Technology Centre.
Hirakawa is just one of several rookies announced for the first practice session in Abu Dhabi. Joining him will be Arthur Leclerc (Ferrari), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls), Luke Browning (Williams), and Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin).
Pato O’Ward, who took part in FP1 at his home GP in Mexico, will return to the cockpit of the MCL38 during the Young Driver Test at the Yas Marina Circuit the Tuesday after the final race of the 2024 season.
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