Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara will step up to Formula 1 with Haas on a multi-year contract beginning in the 2027 season, the team announced on Thursday. The Brazilian driver, 21, becomes the latest graduate from Ferrari's driver academy to secure a seat on the grid.
Camara has built a reputation as one of motorsport's most promising young talents. He claimed the 2025 Formula 3 title after winning the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, and currently leads the 2026 Formula 2 standings with two rounds remaining. According to Formula 1's official reporting, Camara has recorded three Feature Race victories and four additional podium finishes in his F2 rookie season, holding a seven-point advantage over Nikola Tsolov.
The 21-year-old joined Ferrari's driver academy in 2021 alongside fellow academy member Oliver Bearman, who moved to Haas in 2025 and remains affiliated with the Scuderia. Camara's promotion to Formula 1 comes as Esteban Ocon departs the American team at the end of this season following two years with the outfit, a departure confirmed in September.
Camara impressed during a test of Haas's 2025 car at Portugal's Portimao circuit in August, demonstrating his readiness for the step up to the sport's top tier.
I'm very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver. 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.
The Brazilian driver added:
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.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed enthusiasm about securing Camara's signature, highlighting the driver's performances in junior categories and his potential to make an immediate impact.
I'm really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent like Rafael Camara. 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.
Komatsu continued:
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.
Team owner Gene Haas drew parallels between Camara's trajectory and that of Bearman, who has consistently outperformed the more-experienced Ocon during their two seasons together at Haas.
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.
Camara's promotion represents a significant milestone for Brazilian motorsport. According to Grande Prêmio, his arrival will give Brazil two full-time Formula 1 drivers in 2027 for the first time since 2016, with Gabriel Bortoleto racing for Audi.
Bearman's future still to be confirmed
While Camara's signing completes Haas's driver pairing for 2027, the team has yet to formally announce Oliver Bearman's continuation beyond this season. The British driver, also a Ferrari academy graduate, has been a standout performer for the American outfit but remains in negotiations over a contract extension.
When asked about Bearman's status on Thursday, Komatsu told Sky Sports F1:
We really enjoy working with him. His speed is without any shadow of a doubt. And his personality, how positive he is, how much he really motivates the team. In all aspects, I'm very happy.
Komatsu added:
So I am very much looking forward to working with him beyond this year. And I expect it will happen but it's just a matter of timing. I'd like to think that's going to be finalised very soon. But we're just not ready to confirm that yet.
According to ESPN's coverage, Haas expects to confirm Bearman's 2027 seat very soon, with the team confident about retaining the 22-year-old alongside Camara.
What happens next
Camara is expected to gain valuable experience in a Formula 1 car before his full-time debut, with several Friday practice sessions scheduled for the remainder of 2026. According to ESPN, these outings will include an appearance at his home Brazilian Grand Prix in early November, giving him the chance to familiarise himself with Haas's machinery and procedures ahead of the new season.
The announcement means Haas's 2027 driver line-up is effectively complete pending Bearman's formal confirmation. Racing Bulls remain the only team yet to confirm either of their drivers for next season, though Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are considered strong favourites to retain their seats.
Formula 1 next heads to The Americas for a triple-header, with the United States Grand Prix in Austin scheduled for October 23-25, live on Sky Sports F1.
