Haas Signs Ferrari Protege Rafael Camara to Replace Esteban Ocon for Next Season
Haas F1 Team has officially confirmed Ferrari Driver Academy talent Rafael Camara as Esteban Ocon’s replacement, completing an all-youth lineup alongside Oliver Bearman.
The decision follows weeks of speculation after Haas confirmed Ocon’s departure at the end of the season. Impressed by Bearman’s standout performances, team principal Ayao Komatsu and team owner Gene Haas opted once again to utilize their technical partnership with Scuderia Ferrari, securing the 21-year-old Brazilian on a multi-year deal finalized during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
A Rapid Rise Through the Junior Ranks
Camara arrives on the Formula 1 grid backed by an exceptional junior motorsport pedigree. He previously clinched championships in both Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) and FIA Formula 3 during his rookie campaigns in each series.
Currently competing in FIA Formula 2, Camara sits atop the drivers’ standings with two rounds remaining, holding a seven-point advantage over Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov. Regardless of how the championship concludes, Haas determined that his racecraft and development trajectory warranted an immediate step up.
“I’m really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent,” said Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu. “I don’t need to tell everyone about his achievements in the junior formulae – it’s been very impressive. In his rookie season in Formula 2, the speed he’s shown in some very difficult moments goes to show the potential Rafa has.”
How Camara Beat Out McLaren and Toyota Contenders
Haas conducted an extensive testing and evaluation programme over the summer to review candidates for the vacant seat. The shortlist included:
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Jack Doohan: Haas reserve driver with seven prior Grand Prix starts for Alpine, who made the final two alongside Camara.
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Leonardo Fornaroli: The previous year’s F2 champion, backed heavily by McLaren, which pushed hard to place the Italian in a race seat.
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Ryo Hirakawa & Sho Tsuboi: Japanese racers evaluated as part of Haas’ technical partnership with Toyota Racing.
The definitive breakthrough for Camara came during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outing at Portimão in August, where he piloted Haas’ previous-generation machinery. His adaptability, technical feedback, and pace under compressed run plans sealed the team’s verdict.
“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,” Komatsu noted. “He showed us more than just raw speed.”
Partnering with Bearman, Camara’s arrival creates one of the youngest pairings on the grid and solidifies the American outfit’s commitment to grooming the next generation of Formula 1 talent.