Hirakawa scores debut F1 point as Bearman retires in Mexico City

Ryō Hirakawa scored a point on his Formula 1 debut at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The FIA’s final classification places the Haas driver 10th; Haas’s race recap listed him 13th at the chequered flag. The final order also records three time penalties.

Starting 18th on medium tyres, Hirakawa gained a place on the opening lap and battled Liam Lawson. He stopped for softs on lap 36. Shortly afterwards, Valtteri Bottas’s high-speed accident damaged the barriers and suspended the race. Hirakawa took the standing restart on lap 47 from 17th on softs.

During the later safety-car period caused by Arvid Lindblad’s crash at Turn 2, Hirakawa pitted again on lap 57 for used softs. He restarted 15th and passed Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in the closing laps. Haas’s recap said he finished 13th at the chequered flag. Hirakawa said he had taken too much margin at the start because his focus was on finishing and learning; after the safety car, he felt more confident on the soft tyres.

Bearman started 14th and passed Gabriel Bortoleto for 11th after 19 laps. He pitted for mediums on lap 40 and took the lap-47 restart 11th on softs. Haas said Nico Hülkenberg hit him from behind at Turn 4 and that the damage forced him to retire; the team also said Hülkenberg received a time penalty. Team principal Ayao Komatsu said Bearman had done everything correctly and that Haas had a chance to score points.