Toyota’s strategy for a successor if Ryo Hirakawa secures a position with Haas F1
Toyota's junior driver Esteban Masson is set to ascend to the manufacturer’s Hypercar team next year, contingent on Ryo Hirakawa departing the World Endurance Championship to race for Haas in Formula 1.
The 2027 WEC lineup for Toyota remains uncertain, as the TGR leadership awaits Haas to finalize its replacement for Esteban Ocon, who is leaving the team at the conclusion of the season.
Haas reserve Hirakawa is among the three contenders shortlisted to take over the seat of the former grand prix victor, with Ferrari reserve Rafael Camara and reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornali also in consideration.
The 32-year-old has undertaken several F1 tests this year as part of Haas’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) initiative, conducted in collaboration with its technical partner Toyota, while he has also tested for McLaren and Alpine in recent years.
Although F2 points leader Camara is increasingly seen as the frontrunner for the seat alongside Oliver Bearman, a decision regarding the American team's 2027 strategy has yet to be reached.
Toyota's technical director David Floury indicated that promoting Masson to Hypercar would be the “logical choice” should the manufacturer lose 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours victor Hirakawa to F1.
It is understood that any speculation linking Ocon to a move to Toyota in WEC is unfounded.
“Clearly, Esteban is almost ready to step in. We are still in discussions, but it would be a logical choice [to replace Hirakawa],” Floury remarked to the media, including Motorsport.com.
Masson is regarded as the next potential star in the WEC and is being prepared by Toyota for a future transition to Hypercar.
The Frenchman first drove the GR010 Hybrid at the Bahrain rookie test in November last year, before taking the wheel of the upgraded TR010 Hybrid during the Le Mans test day in June.
He is currently competing for the title in the European Le Mans Series, and his resume includes two LMP2 podium finishes at Le Mans.
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No Japanese driver in #7 Toyota?
For an extended period, Toyota has included one Japanese driver in each of its two WEC cars. Team principal/driver Kamui Kobayashi represents the country in the #7 TR010 Hybrid, while Hirakawa leads the lineup for the #8 car, having replaced Kazuki Nakajima after the former F1 driver transitioned into a management role.
The last time Toyota fielded a car without a Japanese driver was in 2015, the year prior to signing Kobayashi for its LMP1 program.
Floury did not dismiss the possibility of entering a lineup without a Japanese driver next year, but emphasized the significance of having representation from the manufacturer’s home country.
“Certainly, it's important for us to have one Japanese driver in each vehicle. However, it's equally vital that we perform,” he stated.
“Ryo is definitely part of the team and is currently here with us, fully integrated and meeting expectations.”
Floury added that Toyota lacks a Japanese driver in its ranks who could step into Hypercar next year, further enhancing Masson’s prospects.
“We have some candidates, but at the moment, they are not necessarily prepared to step in at short notice,” he mentioned.
How Hirakawa could fare in F1
Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1 Team VF-26
Floury has monitored Hirakawa’s progress since he took over the seat previously held by Nakajima in 2022. Additionally, the French engineer has assessed the performance of several F1 drivers who later competed in the WEC, including Kobayashi, Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Nyck de Vries.
Given his age and limited experience in single-seater racing at the international level, Hirakawa might be considered an unconventional choice for Haas.
However, Floury expressed “no concerns” about Hirakawa's adaptation to grand prix racing, citing his extensive background in Super Formula and private F1 tests.
“Ryo has clearly advanced over the years,” he commented. “He’s a very strong member of our team. He delivers solid races every weekend. He’s definitely on it.
“He’s not here [in Hypercar] because he’s Japanese; he’s here because he’s performing well.
“We have solid and strong references in WEC and within our team as well. He’s demonstrating every weekend that he’s operating at a very high level.
He added: “Ryo has considerable experience in single-seaters. So, this is nothing new for him.
“He’s also been driving the TPC car with us in multiple sessions. So, he’s well-prepared. I have no concerns.
“As for what’s next, I’m not in a position to comment since it’s not finalized and isn’t directly relevant.”
Toyota is poised to implement another adjustment to its lineup, with Kevin Estre set to join from Porsche on a loan basis to replace Mike Conway, who is expected to leave the Cologne-based team after 12 seasons.
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