Rafael Camara to Race for Haas F1 in 2027, Replacing Esteban Ocon
The Rafael Camara Haas deal is done. The 21-year-old Brazilian has signed a multi-year contract and will race for the American-owned, Ferrari-powered Formula 1 team next season, the outfit announced on Thursday. He will take the seat vacated by Esteban Ocon, whose departure was announced last month.
Camara arrives with serious junior credentials. He won the Formula 3 title last year and now leads the Formula 2 standings by seven points over Red Bull-backed Nikola Tsolov, with two rounds of the season remaining.
Rafael Camara Haas Deal: Why the Team Picked Him
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised the young driver’s raw speed and maturity. He pointed to Camara’s qualifying performances in Monaco and Montreal during a difficult rookie F2 campaign, and to an impressive test in the team’s Testing of Previous Car programme at the Algarve circuit in Portimao in August, where Camara drove last year’s VF-25 with little time to learn the car.
“He showed us more than just raw speed,” Komatsu said, adding that Camara created the right environment around himself to get the best out of the car. The Brazilian has also tested with Ferrari, whose academy he came through.
Camara called the move an important step in his career. “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,” he said.
Britain’s Oliver Bearman, another Ferrari Academy graduate, is expected to stay on as his team-mate. Bearman has carried the team this season, scoring 23 of Haas’s 30 points as the squad sits seventh of 11 teams heading into next week’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
Brazil Gets a Second Driver on the Grid
Camara will be the second Brazilian on the starting grid, alongside Gabriel Bortoleto, who races for Audi. For a country with one of the richest traditions in Formula 1, from Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet to Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa, having two drivers on the grid again is a moment of genuine pride.
The signing ends the immediate hopes of Australian reserve Jack Doohan, who had been pushing for a return to a full-time race seat after his split from Renault-owned Alpine last year. Haas chose the younger prospect with the stronger junior record.
The move also underlines the Ferrari Academy’s growing role as a pipeline to the grid. Both Haas seats for 2027 are now set to be filled by academy graduates, a sign of how closely the American team leans on its technical partnership with Maranello. Haas has built its recent progress around that relationship, and the wider paddock is watching how Ferrari-powered teams develop their 2026 cars.
Formula 1’s global calendar keeps throwing up logistical challenges for the teams. This month’s Singapore weekend showed how extreme weather can disrupt the schedule, with haze forcing restrictions on outdoor activity. Camara will get his first taste of that world championship grind when the new season begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rafael Camara?
Rafael Camara is a 21-year-old Brazilian racing driver and Ferrari Academy member. He won the Formula 3 championship last year and currently leads the Formula 2 standings with two rounds remaining.
Which team will Rafael Camara drive for in 2027?
Camara has signed a multi-year deal with Haas, the American-owned, Ferrari-powered Formula 1 team. He will replace French driver Esteban Ocon.
Who will be Camara’s team-mate at Haas?
Britain’s Oliver Bearman is expected to stay at Haas. Like Camara, he came through the Ferrari Academy, and he has scored 23 of the team’s 30 points this season.
When does the 2027 Formula 1 season start?
The exact calendar has not been confirmed in this announcement. Haas made the signing public ahead of next week’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, where the team currently sits seventh in the constructors’ standings.
