Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Ending weeks of speculation, Haas F1 has confirmed its signing of Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
He will team up with a fellow graduate of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, Oliver Bearman. Indeed, the two drivers were both signed by Ferrari at the same time in 2021 having competed in the Scuderia’s Scouting World Final at Maranello. He will become the second Brazilian driver on the F1 grid, joining Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Camara currently leads the FIA Formula 2 championship standings and, if he wins the title, will become only the second driver in history after Oscar Piastri to win a junior title (in this case, Formula Regional Europe), F3 and F2 in successive seasons.
Camara clearly impressed the Haas F1 team when given the chance to participate in a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) test in August, when he drove last year’s Haas F1 car at the Algarve circuit in Portugal.
With rumours growing in the paddock, Camara told Formula Scout in an exclusive interview at Monza that driving the F1 car was “what you always dreamed about. Obviously, the dream is to be there [in F1] racing full time, but it’s good to have a taste and to drive an F1 car. Now that dream has become reality.
Speaking when the signing was confirmed, Camara said: “I’m very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver. It’s an important step in my career and I want to thank Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for the trust they have placed in me.
“Joining Formula 1 is a dream come true and a very special moment in my career. Making it to F1 has been my goal for as long as I can remember, but I know this is only the beginning. My focus now is on preparing as well as possible for this new challenge. There will be a lot to learn, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the team, understanding the car and continuing to develop as a driver.
“I would like to thank everyone at the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for the support, guidance and trust they have given me since I joined the programme in 2021. The Academy has played a fundamental role in my development, helping me grow both as a driver and as a person.”
“I’m really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent like Rafael Camara,” said Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of the Haas F1 team.
“I don’t need to tell everyone about his achievements in the junior formulas, it’s been very impressive, and in his rookie season in Formula 2, the speed he’s shown in some very difficult moments, like qualifying in Monaco and Montreal – that all goes to show the potential Rafa has.
“He showed when we had him drive in our TPC program in Portugal that he could handle himself very well with not a huge amount of time to learn the car, he showed us more than just raw speed. Rafa managed to create an environment to get the best out of himself, it was very impressive and certainly the laps he completed were special.
“We’re all excited about this opportunity and really committed as Haas F1 Team to nurture this talent and provide a place where he can flourish. We want to create an environment where he’s comfortable and supported, where he can really excel in his capabilities.”
Gene Haas, team owner of the eponymous team commented: “I’m excited to see what Rafael Camara can achieve in F1 having seen his accomplishments coming up through the ranks in F3 and now F2 this year.
“It’s a different challenge at this level but what we’ve experienced through Ollie Bearman following a similar trajectory and association with the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, these younger drivers are well prepared, and they can make an immediate impact on a team. Rafa impressed the team with his TPC performance, so we look forward to building on that and growing our relationship full-time next season.”