Source: Official Team Post via X
Haas Relies on Test Success to Sign Rafael Camara for 2027 F1 Season
Haas has confirmed the signing of Rafael Camara for the 2027 F1 season, replacing Esteban Ocon. Team principal Ayao Komatsu cites a successful test at Portimao as a key factor in their decision.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu recently revealed the reasoning behind the team's decision to sign Rafael Camara for the 2027 F1 season. This decision comes after Haas announced that Camara, a Ferrari Driver Academy talent, will replace Esteban Ocon. The Brazilian driver will join Haas under a multi-year contract, marking his debut in Formula 1.
Haas opted not to renew Ocon's contract beyond its original two-year term, citing a lack of pace compared to Oliver Bearman and internal friction within the team. With Ocon's departure, Haas faced a significant decision on who would fill the vacancy alongside Bearman, who remains under contract with an option for a third year.
Komatsu stated that a critical factor in choosing Camara was his performance during a testing of previous cars (TPC) session at Portimao. The young driver outpaced Haas reserve drivers Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa, as well as McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli and Red Bull reserve Yuki Tsunoda. Camara's pace even exceeded the benchmark set by Bearman, though Bearman didn't complete a full session. Komatsu emphasized that without this test, he would not have felt as confident in selecting Camara purely based on his Formula 2 results.
"Without that test, my confidence in the decision would have been much less," Komatsu explained, as reported by the Italian edition of Motorsport.com. He noted that relying solely on Camara's Formula 2 performances would have been a riskier move that he was hesitant to take.
Camara's Formula 2 season has been impressive, leading the standings with 207 points, ahead of Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov. The Brazilian has secured wins in Feature Races at Barcelona, Spa, and Baku, with additional podium finishes in Melbourne and Monza. His rise to F1 comes on the heels of a successful rookie year in Formula 3, where he clinched the title in 2025.
As Haas prepares for the 2027 season, they are expected to retain Bearman, another Ferrari Driver Academy standout, solidifying a dynamic young lineup. This decision to bring in Camara reflects Haas's strategic focus on nurturing new talent, while addressing internal team dynamics by moving on from Ocon.