Rafael Camara will make his Formula 1 debut with Haas in 2027 after the American team confirmed the highly rated Brazilian Ferrari Driver Academy member on a multi year contract, completing a remarkably rapid rise through the junior categories.
The 21 year old will replace Esteban Ocon, whose departure from Haas at the end of the 2026 season was confirmed in September. Camara is expected to line up alongside Oliver Bearman, although Haas have not yet formally announced the Briton’s new agreement for next year. Team principal Ayao Komatsu has nevertheless made clear that he expects Bearman to remain with the team.
Camara arrives in Formula 1 with an increasingly impressive record behind him.
He won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, followed that by claiming the 2025 Formula 3 title, and has immediately become a championship contender in his rookie Formula 2 season with Invicta Racing.
With two rounds remaining, the Brazilian leads the F2 standings by seven points after recording three Feature Race victories and several other podium finishes.
That progression has made him one of the most closely watched young drivers in the Ferrari development system.
Camara joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022, entering the programme at the same time as Bearman. The two could now form one of the youngest driver pairings on the Formula 1 grid if Haas completes Bearman’s expected extension.
For Ferrari, the promotion also represents another successful step in its junior programme.
Bearman used Haas as his route into Formula 1 in 2025, and Camara will now follow a similar pathway through a team that has a long standing technical relationship with Ferrari.
Camara’s promotion was not based purely on his results in Formula 2.
Haas evaluated several candidates for the vacant 2027 seat, including reserve drivers Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa, while reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli was also linked with the opportunity.
Camara strengthened his position considerably during a private test with Haas at Portimao in Portugal in August, driving the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car.
According to Haas, the Brazilian impressed not only with his outright speed but also with how quickly he adapted to the machinery and worked with engineers.
Komatsu was particularly complimentary about Camara’s performance during the test.
The Haas team principal said the young driver demonstrated more than raw pace, showing an ability to create the right environment around himself and quickly understand what was required to extract performance from the car.
That maturity appears to have played a major role in convincing Haas to commit to a multi year agreement rather than offering Camara only a short-term opportunity.
Team owner Gene Haas also pointed towards Bearman’s development as evidence that promoting another young Ferrari backed driver can work.
Bearman has become increasingly important to the team and has regularly impressed with his speed and race performances despite still being relatively inexperienced.
Haas believes Camara could make a similarly immediate impact when he joins Formula 1.
For Camara, the announcement represents the fulfilment of a career long ambition.
The Brazilian thanked Haas for placing its trust in him and also acknowledged the role Ferrari’s academy has played in his development.
His immediate priority remains Formula 2, where he still has an opportunity to complete his final junior season by winning the championship before turning his full attention towards Formula 1 preparation.
Camara’s arrival will also restore a stronger Brazilian presence on the grid.
He is set to become the second Brazilian Formula 1 driver alongside Gabriel Bortoleto.
Reuters reports that Camara intends to race with car number 50, with his preferred number five already being used by Bortoleto.
Brazil has one of the richest histories of any country in Formula 1, producing world champions such as Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi.
The presence of two young Brazilian drivers at the same time will therefore generate considerable interest as the country continues searching for its next major Formula 1 success story.
Camara will arrive at Haas during an important phase of the team’s development.
The American-owned operation has made noticeable progress in recent seasons and currently sits seventh in the Constructors’ Championship.
Bearman has been a major contributor to that campaign, scoring 23 of Haas’ 30 points after 17 rounds.
The team now appears committed to building around youth rather than relying on a more experienced driver pairing.
Ocon brought significant Formula 1 experience when he joined Haas in 2025, but his two-year spell will end after the current season.
Camara’s signing represents a clear change in direction.
If Bearman remains as expected, Haas will enter 2027 with two 21 year old Ferrari Academy products rather than pairing a young driver with an experienced veteran.
That approach carries obvious risks, but Haas believe the modern generation of junior drivers arrive in Formula 1 considerably better prepared than in the past.
Simulator programmes, private testing, detailed data analysis and extensive academy support mean drivers such as Camara can gain meaningful experience before their first competitive Grand Prix weekend.
His Portimao test gave Haas evidence that he could handle the step.
The challenge in Formula 1 will still be enormous.
Camara will need to adapt to longer race distances, complex energy management, tyre behaviour, media pressure and the intense technical demands of working within a Formula 1 team.
He will also enter during a period when the sport is still adjusting to the regulations introduced in 2026.
But Haas believe his junior career has demonstrated the speed and consistency required to succeed.
His performances in difficult Formula 2 qualifying sessions, particularly at circuits such as Monaco and Montreal, were among the examples highlighted by Komatsu when discussing his potential.
The signing also leaves questions over Ocon’s future.
The Frenchman has made clear that he intends to continue racing in Formula 1 if an opportunity becomes available, but most seats for 2027 have already been settled.
As things stand, Camara’s arrival at Haas could represent the only confirmed change among most of the grid, with Racing Bulls one of the few teams still to finalize its full line up.
For Camara, none of that uncertainty changes his immediate task.
He still has an F2 championship to finish before beginning the biggest transition of his career.
But the destination is now confirmed.
After winning Formula Regional, dominating Formula 3 and immediately fighting for the Formula 2 championship, Rafael Camara has convinced Haas that he is ready for Formula 1. The next chapter begins in 2027, when one of Ferrari’s brightest young prospects finally takes his place on the Grand Prix grid.
