The Mexican Grand Prix delivered another surprise long after the chequered flag, as Ryo Hirakawa claimed his first Formula 1 point following a series of post-race penalties at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The Japanese driver, who replaced Esteban Ocon at Haas, initially finished 13th. However, decisions made by the stewards after the race promoted him to tenth, turning his unexpected debut into a points-scoring appearance.
It was a remarkable outcome for Hirakawa, who approached his first Grand Prix cautiously, focusing on completing the race distance and avoiding unnecessary mistakes.
Alpine hit with double penalty as Gasly and Colapinto lose points
The biggest changes to the classification came from penalties handed to both Alpine drivers, who were investigated for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.
Franco Colapinto, who originally finished eighth, received a ten-second time penalty for failing to reduce his speed adequately in a sector covered by a single yellow flag.
Pierre Gasly faced a more severe sanction. The Frenchman, who crossed the line in tenth, was penalised for an infringement under double yellow flags. His stop-and-go penalty was converted into an additional 30 seconds on his final race time.
The penalties dropped Colapinto to 15th and Gasly to 17th, wiping out the five championship points Alpine had initially secured.
Piastri also penalised as Hirakawa moves into the top ten
Hirakawa’s promotion was also helped by a ten-second penalty imposed on Oscar Piastri following a collision with Arvid Lindblad.
The McLaren driver had finished seventh on the road but was relegated to 13th in the revised classification, allowing several competitors to move up.
Liam Lawson was promoted to seventh, ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar, while Hirakawa completed the points-paying positions in tenth after starting 18th.
The result was particularly significant given that Hirakawa’s opportunity to race came during the weekend itself, following Haas’s decision to replace Ocon.
A memorable Formula 1 debut for Hirakawa
Hirakawa approached his first Formula 1 race without taking unnecessary risks. After a cautious start, the Haas driver gradually gained confidence in the car, maintaining a consistent pace and successfully reaching the finish.
Already delighted simply to complete his first Grand Prix, the Japanese driver had even more reason to celebrate once the stewards confirmed the revised results.
Tenth place immediately put him on the championship scoreboard, earning Haas a valuable point in the Constructors’ Championship battle.
For Alpine, the outcome could hardly have been more frustrating. Despite initially bringing both cars home inside the top ten, the French team left Mexico empty-handed.
The Mexican Grand Prix therefore ended with a landmark result for Hirakawa. Called upon to replace Esteban Ocon, the Japanese driver combined a measured performance with the penalties handed to his rivals to secure his first Formula 1 point on his Grand Prix debut.