Rafael Câmara to Haas in 2027: how close is the Ferrari junior?
Ferrari is pushing hard to place Rafael Camara at Haas, but Toyota and McLaren also want that seat.
Rafael Câmara’s possible move to Haas for 2027 has become one of the big talking points in the paddock. Reports emerged in the last 48 hours that a decision has been reached, and the F1 world is paying close attention. This is everything you need to know right now.
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Update, 27 September 2026: Câmara leads the Formula 2 championship after the Baku round with 207 points, seven ahead of Nikola Tsolov. See the full F2 standings 2026. Haas has not announced its 2027 line-up yet. Team principal Ayao Komatsu said this week that a decision will come within the next couple of weeks.
The rumour has become serious
Rafael Camara is reportedly set to become a Haas Formula 1 driver from the 2027 season. Born in 2005, Camara is widely regarded as one of the brightest talents from the Ferrari Driver Academy. He claimed the Formula Regional European Championship title in 2024, then won the Formula 3 championship with Trident, securing four Feature Race victories.
The Brazilian completed his first Formula 1 test in the Ferrari SF-25 and has now accumulated enough points to qualify for an FIA super license, officially making him eligible for a Formula 1 race seat. That is a huge step. Camara currently sits third in the F2 championship competing for Invicta Racing.
Ferrari’s plan to put Camara at Haas
Maranello believes that the next top talent ready for graduation to Formula 1 is Rafael Camara, a standout product of the Ferrari Driver Academy just like Oliver Bearman. Ferrari is reportedly evaluating Haas as the natural destination to complete their junior’s development path, effectively replicating the exact management model previously used with Bearman.
Ferrari is believed to have strongly backed Camara’s candidacy in recent months, ultimately shifting the balance in the Brazilian’s favour and securing final approval for the move. With Charles Leclerc recently signing a new contract and Lewis Hamilton suggesting he has no intention to retire, Ferrari’s own race seats are unavailable. Ocon is considered the highest-paid driver Haas has ever had, and a rookie like Camara would be significantly cheaper.
Câmara is not the only candidate
It is not a one-horse race. Three names have emerged as candidates for the 2027 seat: McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, and former Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda. Haas’ partnership with Japanese manufacturer Toyota is cited as a reason for their interest in Tsunoda, with a desire to get the Japanese racer back onto the grid.
There is a complication, though: Tsunoda’s ties to Honda could make a move to a Toyota-backed team awkward. Meanwhile, 2025 F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, a McLaren junior driver, took part in FP1 at the Barcelona Grand Prix, then got behind the wheel of older Haas F1 machinery as part of the squad’s two-day Testing of Previous Cars programme. The seat race is genuinely wide open.
Ocon is running out of time
Esteban Ocon is at risk of losing his seat at Haas in 2027. His results have not been what the team expected, and with rookie teammate Oliver Bearman consistently outperforming him, the Frenchman is running out of time to save his career.
Bearman leads Ocon 6-2 in qualifying and 5-3 in races through the 2026 season so far, and Bearman’s 18 championship points dwarf Ocon’s three. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said that ‘nobody was satisfied’ with Ocon’s performance. Ocon is due to be out of contract at the end of this year and will need to prove his worth to be handed an 11th season in F1. The pressure is immense. You can read more about Ocon’s journey on our Esteban Ocon driver profile page.
Nothing is signed yet
The story is moving fast. If the move materialises, Haas would field an all-Ferrari Driver Academy lineup for the first time, with both Bearman and Camara having progressed through the Scuderia’s junior programme. That would allow both Oliver Bearman and Rafael Camara additional time to develop at Haas, a team that increasingly looks like the ideal stepping stone towards a future drive with Ferrari’s works outfit.
Haas faces pressure from Ferrari, who are determined to secure a grid slot for Camara, while on the other hand they must balance the growing influence of Toyota, who would warmly welcome the arrival of a Japanese star. The second half of 2026 will be decisive. See the official F1 Haas team preview for full background on the team’s current situation. You can also check how Fernando Alonso views the current crop of young F1 talent for wider context on the junior driver debate.
Nothing is settled yet, and every race weekend brings new twists. Follow all the latest driver market news and standings on our F1 driver news page.
