Alpine F1 Team Signs WEC Champion Ahead Of 2025 Season

Saajan Jogia | 11 Hours Ago

May 4, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alpine driver Pierre Gasley (10) during F1 qualifying for Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images / Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The Alpine F1 team has signed two-time World Endurance Championship winner Ryo Hirakawa as its new test and reserve driver. The Japanese driver has been linked to Toyota for a long time as he competes for the automaker in the Hyperclass category in WEC.

Hirakawa, who has been a part of McLaren’s driver development program, also got the opportunity to test Haas' 2024 VF-24 F1 car at the Abu Dhabi young driver test in December last year through Toyota's new technical partnership with the American outfit.

Now part of Renault, the 30-year-old reserve driver will assist Alpine with its simulator and support the development of the team's car through the TPC (testing of previous cars) program. Addressing the "great opportunity" that awaits in the 2025 season, Hirakawa said:

“It is an honour to be joining BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team as a Test and Reserve Driver for the 2025 season.

“As always, the opportunity of track time in Formula One machinery is the pinnacle for race drivers and I am excited to drive in Free Practice 1 in front of my home crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix, as well as working with the team testing previous cars. 

“It is a great opportunity to be working with such a dedicated team that utilises the breadth of experience of its driver pool and I look forward to playing a part in making 2025 a positive year together.”

During the season's Japanese Grand Prix in April, Hirakawa will make a practice appearance at his home race. Speaking on his signing, Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes added:

“It is great to bring Ryo on board with the team for 2025 and have him step in to take over driving duties for FP1 in Japan in front of his home crowd.

“His addition brings a diverse range of racing experience to our current roster and expands the pool of talent available to call upon throughout the season. 

“His role will be important in providing the team with support in various areas of development through our TPC programme and simulator work, and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the team as we press ahead with preparations for the new season.”

Hirakawa joins Formula 2 race winner Paul Aron in the team's reserve driver pool. The Enstone outfit's driver lineup also witnessed a change last year as the team parted ways with Esteban Ocon to make way for rookie driver Jack Doohan, who will partner Pierre Gasly on the grid.

2025 Formula One Season Schedule

Pre-Season Testing

• Dates: 26-28 Feb
• Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO PRE-SEASON TESTING 2025
• Circuit: Pre-Season Testing

Australia

• Dates: 14-16 Mar
• Location: Australia, Melbourne
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Melbourne circuit

China

• Dates: 21-23 Mar
• Location: China, Shanghai
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Shanghai circuit

Japan

• Dates: 04-06 Apr
• Location: Japan, Suzuka
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Suzuka circuit

Bahrain

• Dates: 11-13 Apr
• Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Sakhir circuit

Saudi Arabia

• Dates: 18-20 Apr
• Location: Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Jeddah circuit

Miami

• Dates: 02-04 May
• Location: Miami, Miami
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Miami circuit

Emilia-Romagna

• Dates: 16-18 May
• Location: Emilia-Romagna, Imola
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 AWS GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2025
• Circuit: Imola circuit

Monaco

• Dates: 23-25 May
• Location: Monaco, Monaco
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2025
• Circuit: Monaco circuit

Spain

• Dates: 30 May-01 Jun
• Location: Spain, Barcelona
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025
• Circuit: Barcelona circuit

Canada

• Dates: 13-15 Jun
• Location: Canada, Montréal
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025
• Circuit: Montréal circuit

Austria

• Dates: 27-29 Jun
• Location: Austria, Spielberg
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Spielberg circuit

Great Britain

• Dates: 04-06 Jul
• Location: Great Britain, Silverstone
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Silverstone circuit

Belgium

• Dates: 25-27 Jul
• Location: Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Spa-Francorchamps circuit

Hungary

• Dates: 01-03 Aug
• Location: Hungary, Budapest
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Budapest circuit

Netherlands

• Dates: 29-31 Aug
• Location: Netherlands, Zandvoort
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Zandvoort circuit

Italy

• Dates: 05-07 Sep
• Location: Italy, Monza
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2025
• Circuit: Monza circuit

Azerbaijan

• Dates: 19-21 Sep
• Location: Azerbaijan, Baku
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Baku circuit

Singapore

• Dates: 03-05 Oct
• Location: Singapore, Marina Bay
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Marina Bay circuit

United States

• Dates: 17-19 Oct
• Location: United States, Austin
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Austin circuit

Mexico

• Dates: 24-26 Oct
• Location: Mexico, Mexico City
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2025
• Circuit: Mexico City circuit

Brazil

• Dates: 07-09 Nov
• Location: Brazil, São Paulo
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2025
• Circuit: São Paulo circuit

Las Vegas

• Dates: 20-22 Nov
• Location: Las Vegas, Las Vegas
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Las Vegas circuit

Qatar

• Dates: 28-30 Nov
• Location: Qatar, Lusail
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Lusail circuit

Abu Dhabi

• Dates: 05-07 Dec
• Location: Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Yas Island circuit