Photo via Crash.net

Ryo Hirakawa scores point on F1 debut at Mexico GP after double Alpine penalty

Ryo Hirakawa made history in Formula 1 by securing his first championship point on his debut at the Mexico City Grand Prix, a result that hinged on a series of post-race penalties. The Japanese driver, who replaced Esteban Ocon at Haas just hours before the race, finished 13th on the track but climbed to 10th after Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly were penalized for failing to slow during yellow-flag periods.

Colapinto, who had finished eighth, received a 10-second time penalty, while Gasly, originally tenth, was handed a stop-and-go for ignoring double yellow flags. The penalties cost Alpine five points in the constructors’ standings, dropping them to sixth with 69 points and complicating their push for fifth place in the final four races of the season.

Meanwhile, Haas gained an extra point from Hirakawa’s performance, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar also moved up to eighth and ninth, respectively. Hirakawa reflected on the chaotic start and his focus on learning, noting he had passed two cars in the final stint and was thrilled to achieve his lifelong dream of competing in F1.

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Double penalty costs Alpine all its Mexican GP points