- Haas Sign Formula 2 Leader Rafael Câmara for 2027 Season
Haas have signed Brazilian Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Câmara on a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2027 Formula 1 season, placing another Ferrari-developed young driver at the centre of the team’s long-term plans.
The 21-year-old will replace Esteban Ocon, whose departure after two seasons with Haas was confirmed in September. Câmara is expected to partner Oliver Bearman, although the British driver’s continued stay has not yet been formally announced.
Câmara arrives with one of the strongest junior records among Formula 1’s emerging drivers. He won the Formula 3 championship in 2025 and leads the Formula 2 standings with two rounds remaining in his rookie season.
His promotion gives Brazil another representative at motorsport’s highest level and reinforces Haas’ willingness to prioritise potential as it prepares for 2027.
“I’m very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver,” Câmara said. “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.”
He also credited the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, which he joined in 2021 alongside Bearman, for supporting his development.
“Now my focus is on preparing myself in the best possible way for this new challenge,” Câmara said. “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.”
Haas’ decision was informed by more than Câmara’s results in junior racing. He drove the team’s 2025 car during a Testing of Previous Cars programme at Portugal’s Portimão circuit in August and impressed management with his speed, adaptability and working methods.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu said Câmara showed he could handle limited preparation while creating the conditions required to produce his best performance.
“He showed us more than just raw speed,” Komatsu said. “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.”
The signing reflects a broader change in Haas’ driver strategy. The American-owned operation previously relied heavily on experienced drivers when attempting to stabilise performance and technical development.
Bearman’s progress appears to have altered that calculation. Team owner Gene Haas said the British driver’s immediate impact demonstrated that leading academy prospects could enter Formula 1 better prepared than previous generations.
“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, is that these younger drivers are well prepared,” Haas said.
The likely Câmara-Bearman partnership would give Haas two Ferrari academy graduates and one of the grid’s youngest line-ups. It would also deepen the practical value of the team’s technical relationship with Ferrari.
Youth offers speed, adaptability and long-term development potential, but pairing two relatively inexperienced drivers carries risk. Formula 1 demands consistent technical feedback, tyre management and decision-making under pressure, particularly when car development becomes difficult.
Haas must therefore provide an environment in which mistakes are treated as part of development rather than proof that the strategy has failed. Komatsu said the team was committed to supporting Câmara and creating conditions in which his abilities could flourish.
The unresolved element is Bearman’s future. Komatsu said Haas enjoyed working with him and expected an agreement to be finalised soon, praising his speed, personality and influence on the team.
Should Bearman remain, Haas would enter 2027 with two drivers familiar with Ferrari systems and development methods. The pairing could provide continuity while allowing the team to build around talent that may improve alongside the car.
The Brazilian’s immediate priority remains completing his Formula 2 title campaign. Winning that championship before entering Formula 1 would add further weight to his rapid progression through the junior categories.
For Haas, the signing is a calculated investment rather than merely a replacement. Câmara’s results earned attention, but his Portimão test persuaded the team that his potential could translate into Formula 1.
The multi-year agreement gives both parties time. Câmara gains room to develop, while Haas secures a rated prospect before his value rises further. Success will depend on whether the team can convert raw promise into Formula 1 performance.
