Brazil will once again have two full-time drivers in Formula 1 starting in 2027. Haas confirmed this Thursday, the 15th, the hiring of Rafael Câmara, a 21-year-old driver who currently leads Formula 2. Câmara will take over for Esteban Ocon, the French driver, and form a pair with Oliver Bearman, the British driver.
The agreement is for a long duration. Câmara, originally from Recife (PE), maintains his connection with the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2021. Haas uses engines from the Italian team, with which it has had a partnership since entering the category in 2016.
With the inclusion of Câmara at Haas and Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi, the country regains the presence of two full-time drivers on the grid simultaneously, a situation that had not occurred since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2016. In that edition, Felipe Massa competed for Williams, while Felipe Nasr drove for Sauber.
Rafael Câmara will become the 34th Brazilian to participate in a Formula 1 race. The Pernambuco driver has a solid history in the junior categories, having been champion of the European Regional Formula in 2024 and Formula 3 in 2025, debuting in that competition. Currently, he leads Formula 2 with the Invicta Racing team.
The spot was tested in August at the circuit of Portimão, in Portugal. During this test, Câmara drove the VF-25, the 2025 model of Haas, following regulations that allow evaluations with older cars. Ayao Komatsu, the team boss, emphasized that the Brazilian made a great impression during this trial.
In an official team statement, Câmara expressed his satisfaction in joining Haas as a Formula 1 driver, classifying the move as a significant step in his career. He thanked Gene Haas and Komatsu for the trust placed in him.
Gene Haas, the team owner, compared Câmara's trajectory with that of Bearman, who is also part of the Ferrari academy. According to Haas, both young drivers are very well prepared and have the potential to make an immediate impact on the team.