Who Is Rafael Câmara? Haas Signs Ferrari Junior on Multi-Year Deal to Replace Ocon
Haas has signed 21-year-old Brazilian Formula 2 leader Rafael Câmara on a multi-year deal to partner Oliver Bearman in 2027, replacing Esteban Ocon.
Haas has announced Rafael Câmara as its new Formula 1 driver for 2027, which is why his name is trending. The Brazilian, a Formula 2 championship leader and Ferrari junior, will make his F1 debut next season. He takes the seat of Ocon, who is leaving the team after two years.
Who is Rafael Câmara?
Câmara is 21 and from Brazil. He joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2021, at the same time as Oliver Bearman, who is also 21 and joined Haas in 2025.
He won the Formula 3 championship last year. This season, his rookie year in Formula 2, he leads the standings by seven points from Red Bull-backed junior Nikola Tsolov. Two rounds remain, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. According to the Associated Press, he would be named champion if those rounds can't go ahead and no replacement is scheduled.
Why Haas chose him
Team principal Ayao Komatsu called Câmara a "young, amazing talent". He pointed to his speed in difficult moments in F2, citing qualifying in Monaco and Montreal.
Câmara also tested Haas's 2025 car at Portugal's Portimão circuit in August. Komatsu said he handled himself well with little time to learn the car and "showed us more than just raw speed".
Team owner Gene Haas is optimistic that Câmara can have a similar impact to Bearman. Bearman has outperformed the more experienced Ocon in both of their seasons together.
What happens to Ocon?
Ocon is 30, French and has one F1 win. He is without an F1 seat for next year. He has said he is a "free agent". According to the AP, he would prefer to stay in F1 in a reserve role with another team rather than race in a different series. Sky Sports reports he has said he will not drive next year unless it is in F1.
A first for Brazil since 2016
Audi has already confirmed that Gabriel Bortoleto stays for 2027. That means next year will be the first since 2016 with more than one Brazilian on the grid. According to the AP, Haas also has the youngest driver lineup, by combined age, of any team confirmed so far.
What happens next
Haas has not formally confirmed that Bearman will drive for the team again in 2027. Komatsu says it expects to do so "very soon". The announcement comes ahead of the United States Grand Prix on October 23–25, a home race for the American-owned team. Câmara still has two F2 rounds to finish before his F1 move.
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Quick answers
Is Rafael Câmara replacing Esteban Ocon at Haas?
Yes. Haas confirmed Câmara on a multi-year deal as Ocon's replacement from 2027. Ocon's departure was confirmed in September.
Who will Câmara race alongside?
He is expected to partner Oliver Bearman. Haas has not yet formally confirmed Bearman for 2027, but Komatsu says it expects to do so very soon.
Has Câmara won the F2 title yet?
No. He leads by seven points with two rounds to go, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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