Formula 2 leader and Ferrari junior Rafael Camara will make the step up to Formula 1 for the 2027 season after signing a multi-year deal with American squad Haas.
The 21-year-old has competed in single-seaters since he first joined the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022, making his mark by winning the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship before he landed a Formula 3 seat for the following year.
There, Camara secured another title – equalling Arvid Lindblad for the highest win percentage in F3 history – and graduated to F2, in which he currently leads the drivers’ standings by seven points.
Three Feature Race victories and a further four podiums have given the Brazilian a seven-point advantage over Red Bull protege Nikola Tsolov in his rookie campaign, demonstrating the talent that has earned him a promotion to Haas.
He also showed his skill in an F1 car during a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) test in August, when he drove Haas’ 2025 challenger at Portimao.
“I’m very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver,” said Camara. “It’s an important step in my career and I want to thank Gene Haas [team owner] and Ayao Komatsu [Haas Team Principal] for the trust they have placed in me.
“I’m also very grateful to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for their support and for everything they have contributed to my development over the years, as well as to my family for always being there throughout this journey.
“Now my focus is on preparing myself in the best possible way for this new challenge. There will be a lot to learn, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the team, understanding the car and continuing to develop as a driver.”
Haas Team Principal Komatsu added: “I’m really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent like Camara. I don’t need to tell everyone about his achievements in the junior formulas, it’s been very impressive, and in his rookie season in Formula 2, the speed he’s shown in some very difficult moments, like qualifying in Monaco and Montreal – that all goes to show the potential Rafa has.
“He showed when we had him drive in our TPC program in Portugal that he could handle himself very well with not a huge amount of time to learn the car, he showed us more than just raw speed. Rafa managed to create an environment to get the best out of himself, it was very impressive and certainly the laps he completed were special.
“We’re all excited about this opportunity and really committed as TGR Haas F1 Team to nurture this talent and provide a place where he can flourish. We want to create an environment where he’s comfortable and supported, where he can really excel in his capabilities.”
Team owner Gene Haas commented: “I’m excited to see what Camara can achieve in Formula 1 having seen his accomplishments coming up through the ranks in Formula 3 and now Formula 2 this year.
“It’s a different challenge at this level but what we’ve experienced through Ollie Bearman following a similar trajectory and association with the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, these younger drivers are well prepared, and they can make an immediate impact on a team.
“Rafa impressed the team with his TPC performance, so we look forward to building on that and growing our relationship full-time next season.”
The announcement follows Esteban Ocon’s confirmation that he will leave the American outfit at the end of this season, whilst fellow Ferrari-backed driver Bearman is likely to retain his seat.
