Japanese Ryo Hirakawa has joined Alpine as one of their two test and reserve drivers this year. The 30-year-old, who was a development driver for McLaren in 2024, will take part in first practice at the Japanese Grand Prix for the team on 4 April.

The Alpine F1 team has announced the addition of Ryō Hirakawa to its roster of test and reserve drivers for the 2025 season.

It can also suit the promoters. Zandvoort’s decision to stop hosting F1 after 2026 points to the pressures — and costs — involved in staging a race. Spa looked in serious doubt just a few years ago, and while the interest from the local stakeholders has certainly taken an uplift since then, a couple of off years may actually suit the track.

We're a week into 2025, and with preseason testing still seven weeks away, ESPN unpacks the storylines that will define Formula 1 this year.

Max Verstappen has suffered a blow in comparison to his Formula 1 rival Lewis Hamilton following his Ferrari signing. Verstappen and Hamilton are the two names that have dominated the sport and the drivers' championship in recent history,