Rafael Câmara signs with Haas for 2027 F1 season
It has been announced that Ferrari Driver Academy talent, Rafael Câmara, will replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for the 2027 Formula One season.
The announcement follows a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outing, where Câmara, Jack Doohan, Ryo Hirakawa and Leonardo Fornaroli tested the 2025 Haas F1 car. This allowed the team to assess their options ahead of the 2027 season to replace Ocon. Despite Doohan's running complicating the decision, Câmara emerged as the main contender for the seat next year.
"I'm very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver," Câmara said when speaking on his move to F1.
"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. 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."
Câmara's ascent through the junior ranks has been astonishing. Under Maranello backing, the 21-year-old won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, and then went on to claim the title in his 2025 Formula 3 rookie campaign with four Feature Race wins.
He transitioned to Formula 2 for 2026, where he has emerged as a title contender with Invicta Racing and currently holds a narrow seven-point lead in the standings ahead of Nikola Tsolov.
The Brazilian's promotion means that Haas will field an all-new driver lineup for 2027 as Câmara joins the team. Despite not being announced for 2027, Bearman is expected to remain at the team next year. Bearman also progressed through the Ferrari Driver Academy, and the pairing would mark a significant step in the American outfit's relationship with Ferrari, as the Maranello-based team already have a long-running technical partnership with Haas that extends to 2028.
Meanwhile, Câmara's arrival in F1 marks the end to Ocon's stint at Haas, with the team confirming ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that the Frenchman would not be re-signed for the 2027 season. Ocon's future in motorsport remains uncertain, although he has already been linked with a potential move to the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu also spoke on the signing, and said that he is “really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent like Rafael Câmara.
"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." With his plans for next season confirmed, Câmara will be hoping to maintain his momentum at the top of the F2 standings. With the title still yet to be decided with another two rounds on the racing calendar, the Brazilian has the opportunity to add another accolade to his junior career before making the step up to F1 next season.
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