Haas Optimistic Rafael Camara Can Succeed Where Esteban Ocon Did Not

Haas has announced that Rafael Camara will join their lineup for the 2027 Formula 1 season, replacing Esteban Ocon. The young driver from the Ferrari Driver Academy is expected to achieve what Ocon could not during his tenure as Oliver Bearman's teammate. Ocon's departure, confirmed earlier, comes after a stint that saw him consistently outperformed by Bearman.

Camara, a contender for the 2026 Formula 2 title, brings both talent and financial backing, strengthening Haas's ties with Ferrari. His multi-year contract signals Haas's confidence in the 21-year-old's potential. The decision to sign Camara was influenced by his impressive performance during a TPC test at Portimao, where he outpaced Bearman's benchmark times.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu and owner Gene Haas were impressed by Camara's speed, which surpassed not only Bearman's times but also those of Haas reserve Ryo Hirakawa and McLaren's Leonardo Fornaroli. This performance solidified the belief that Camara could challenge Bearman in a way Ocon never did.

While Ocon brought experience from his time with Alpine, including a memorable win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, he struggled to match Bearman's pace. In the 2026 season, Bearman has dominated, leading in both race results and qualifying head-to-heads against Ocon.

Haas is also in the process of finalizing Bearman's contract extension, ensuring he remains with the team in 2027. Komatsu has praised Bearman's development, stating that he is ready to take on a leadership role alongside Camara. The formal announcement of Bearman's extension is expected soon.

As Haas looks to the future, the combination of Bearman's experience and Camara's fresh talent aims to propel the team forward in the competitive F1 landscape.