Ryō Hirakawa scores on F1 debut after flurry of post F1 Mexico GP penalties

Ryō Hirakawa has been classified 10th on his Formula 1 debut at the Mexico City Grand Prix, after three post-race penalties handed the Haas stand-in a point he did not know he had scored when he spoke to media after the race.

The Japanese reserve driver replaced Esteban Ocon from final practice onwards, after Haas made the shock decision to stand the Frenchman down mid-weekend. The team has not explained the change, saying only that it was not due to illness. Hirakawa had already driven Ocon’s car in first practice on Friday as part of F1’s rookie requirement.