A 2027 race seat on a multi-year agreement
Rafael Câmara will move into Formula 1 with Haas for the 2027 season. The 21-year-old Brazilian has signed a multi-year contract, confirmed by the team and covered by Formula 1 on 15 October. It is a full-time race seat for next season. The announcement does not give the final year of the agreement, so its exact duration should remain unspecified.
Who is Rafael Câmara?
Câmara is a Ferrari junior and races for Invicta Racing in Formula 2. His record includes the 2024 Formula Regional European title and the 2025 FIA Formula 3 championship. He has won three Feature Races in the current F2 campaign and leads the standings with two rounds remaining. The promotion therefore arrives during an unfinished title contest: securing an F1 contract does not mean he has already won the F2 championship.
The test that gave Haas a direct assessment
In August, Câmara drove the Haas VF-25 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão through the Testing of Previous Cars programme. He used an older car, rather than the future 2027 challenger. Explaining the decision, Ayao Komatsu highlighted adaptability and the way the driver worked with the team alongside his speed. Those are Haas management’s assessments; the announcement does not supply lap times for an independent comparison with the other candidates.
Ocon is leaving; the other seat has its own status
Esteban Ocon confirmed on 30 September that he will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 season. Signing Câmara settles part of the team’s plan for next year. In his 15 October analysis, F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto describes Ollie Bearman as the favourite for the other seat and notes that Câmara’s announcement does not confirm his team mate. That distinction remains relevant until an explicit announcement is made.
What to follow next
APEX perspective: the useful next milestones are the end of the F2 campaign and the concrete preparation programme for his debut. A strong test explains the team’s confidence, while repeatable pace, tyre management and communication during a Grand Prix weekend will present different challenges. Haas has chosen a rookie’s potential. The outcome of that decision can be assessed once Câmara actually begins racing in Formula 1.
