Haas Confirm Ferrari Junior Rafael Camara for 2027 F1 Debut
Brazilian Tapped to Lead Haas Into a New Era
Haas have confirmed that Ferrari junior and Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara will step up to Formula 1, signing a multi-year deal that puts the 21-year-old Brazilian in the American squad's race seat for the 2027 season.
Camara has competed in single-seaters since joining the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022, winning the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship before landing a Formula 3 seat the following year. He claimed that title too, equalling Arvid Lindblad for the highest win percentage in F3 history, and graduated to Formula 2, where he currently leads the drivers' standings.
Three Feature Race victories and a further four podiums have given the Brazilian a seven-point advantage over Red Bull protege Nikola Tsolov in his rookie campaign — form that convinced Haas to hand him an F1 seat. He also impressed the team during a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) run in August, driving Haas' 2025 challenger at Portimao.
Camara: 'An Important Step in My Career'
"I'm very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver," Camara said. "It's an important step in my career and I want to thank Gene Haas [team owner] and Ayao Komatsu [Haas Team Principal] for the trust they have placed in me.
"I'm also very grateful to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for their support and for everything they have contributed to my development over the years, as well as to my family for always being there throughout this journey.
"Now my focus is on preparing myself in the best possible way 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."
Four Drivers Evaluated as Haas Made Their Choice
According to the BBC, Camara was selected after a process that assessed a total of four drivers. He was picked ahead of reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, plus Haas reserve drivers Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa. Camara, Fornaroli and Hirakawa were all evaluated at the Portimao test in August, while Doohan was assessed separately.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu was fulsome in his praise of the young Brazilian. "I'm really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent like Camara," he said. "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 TGR 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 Points to Ferrari Academy Pipeline
Team owner Gene Haas said the team's experience with a similar Ferrari academy graduate gave him confidence in the appointment. "I'm excited to see what Camara can achieve in Formula 1 having seen his accomplishments coming up through the ranks in Formula 3 and now Formula 2 this year," he said.
"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."
Second Seat Still to Be Settled
The announcement follows Esteban Ocon's confirmation that he will leave the American outfit at the end of this season after two campaigns alongside Bearman. Haas have not yet named who will pilot their other car, but it is considered only a matter of time before British driver Oliver Bearman is confirmed for a third season. Both Bearman and Camara are members of the Ferrari driver academy.
Long Track to the Grid
The move caps a rapid rise for Camara, who has been one of the most closely watched prospects in the junior ladder. Reporting in September (2026-09-20) had identified Haas as one of the most likely destinations for F1's next crop of rookies, with Camara among the leading candidates alongside Fornaroli and Tsolov. Haas team principal Komatsu had also signalled at that time (2026-09-25) that the team would set out a timeline for finalising its 2027 line-up.