As you have probably heard, F1 has a new rookie joining the 2027 grid from Brazil, Rafael Camara. Haas announced him on 15 October as Esteban Ocon’s replacement for 2027. Camara won back-to-back titles in Formula Regional and Formula 3. Even so, his F2 form and Haas’s situation raise fair doubts. Let’s break it down does he really deserve his place in F1?
WHO IS RAFAEL CAMARA
Rafael Camara is a 21-year-old Brazilian from Recife. He began karting in 2014. Then he joined the Ferrari Driver Academy at the end of 2021. In 2022 with Prema in Formula 4. Ferrari’s academy counts him as its third Brazilian, after Enzo Fittipaldi and Gianluca Petecof. He also joins Gabriel Bortoleto as the second Brazilian on the 2027 grid.
His Formula 4 year in the UAE brought second place despite missing the opening event. He then finished third in both the Italian and ADAC F4 championships. Those results marked him as a real talent. Still, they did not yet mark him as a dominant force.
HOW DID CAMARA PERFORM IN FORMULA REGIONAL AND FORMULA 3
Camara performed brilliantly, winning the 2024 Formula Regional European title and the 2025 Formula 3 title.
Formula Regional From 2023 to 2024
Camara took third in the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with Mumbai Falcons. He also finished fifth in the European series that year with Prema. Kimi Antonelli won that European title. That put Camara behind a future F1 driver.
Camara stayed with Prema for 2024. He then dominated the European series. Four of the first six races went his way. In turn, the title arrived with a round to spare. Also, his final tally reached six wins and seven pole positions. The winning margin was 73 points.
Formula 3 in 2025
Camara left Prema for Trident in 2025. So the move paid off at once. He took four poles in the first five rounds. Then he clinched the F3 title in Hungary with a round to spare. Trident had already produced the previous two F3 champions, Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli.
HOW IS CAMARA PERFORMING IN FORMULA 2 THIS YEAR
Camara leads the 2026 F2 standings with 207 points after Baku. His margin over Nikola Tsolov is seven points with two rounds left. This is his rookie F2 season with Invicta Racing. Feature race wins at Spa and Baku sit on his record. On top of that, he took pole at Silverstone. Then he finished second with the fastest lap at Monza.
Tsolov controlled much of the year. His lead over Camara reached 36 points after Spa. Then Camara cut the gap to 11 points at Monza. A multi-car crash ended Tsolov’s first Baku feature race. Because of this, Camara took the lead by a single point. From there, a win in the second feature race stretched it to seven.
HOW DID CAMARA WIN THE HAAS SEAT
Camara won the seat by impressing Haas in a private test at Portimao in August. Haas used its 2025 car, the VF-25. Also, Ryo Hirakawa and Leonardo Fornaroli drove there. Next, Jack Doohan had a separate test at Jerez. Team principal Ayao Komatsu summed it up with one line, “Camara was the fastest.”
Haas announced the multi-year deal on 15 October. Komatsu insists the Ferrari link did not decide the choice. He told F1.com the call was close. Komatsu also pointed to Camara’s speed in tough qualifying sessions at Monaco and Montreal. Beyond that, one loose end is still open. Haas has not yet formally confirmed Oliver Bearman for 2027. Komatsu expects to do so very soon.
Sources reported that Camara arrives with Ferrari’s backing and substantial Brazilian sponsorship. The same report described industry opinion as divided. Komatsu rejects the idea that Haas has become a Ferrari B-team. So the commercial angle exists. Still, Haas insists performance came first.
WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF RAFAEL CAMARA
Camara’s biggest strengths are one-lap speed and composure in a title fight.
Qualifying Pace
Camara has built his career on one-lap speed. He took seven poles in the 2024 Formula Regional season. Then four poles in the first five F3 rounds followed in 2025. This year brought pole at Silverstone in F2. Also, Komatsu singled out his qualifying speed at Monaco and Montreal. That matters in F1. A good grid slot keeps a rookie out of early traffic.
Composure and Racecraft
Camara has won two titles in two years. Ferrari’s Jerome D’Ambrosio has also praised his ability to handle pressure. That calm showed again at Baku. He took the F2 points lead there. A win then stretched it to seven points. He also beat Tsolov to victory at Spa.
WHAT ARE THE WEAKNESSES AND RISKS
Camara’s main risks come from limited experience and an uneven Haas car.
Inconsistency in F2
Camara spent much of the season chasing Tsolov. He sat 36 points behind after Spa. Part of the swing since then came from Tsolov’s crash in the first Baku feature race. Even so, Camara answered with a feature race win. His seven-point margin is still thin, and the title is not won.
A Short Apprenticeship
Camara has one F2 season behind him. F1 races run longer than F2 feature races, and strategy gets more complex. The Portimao test also used a 2025 car with no race pressure. So it shows his pace but not his consistency over a Grand Prix distance.
A Difficult Team Situation
Haas will field two 21-year-olds with no veteran to lean on. The team struggled for consistency with its 2026 car under the new 2026 regulations. A rookie needs a stable car to learn quickly. Camara may not get one. Also, a contest with Bearman for a future Ferrari seat could add pressure.
HOW WILL CAMARA PERFORM IN FORMULA 1
My read is simple. Camara will be quick over one lap and uneven across a full race.
Qualifying should be his strongest area. Poles at every level support that view. Bearman has two seasons of F1 experience, so he should lead early in 2027. Camara can close that gap by mid-year if Haas gives him a stable car.
Points will depend on the car as much as the driver. If Haas finds the consistency it lacked in 2026, Camara can collect regular points finishes. If not, he will fight for the last points places in only a few races. Rookie mistakes will come too. Expect a few track limits warnings and at least one time penalty in his first season.
His ceiling is high. Ferrari rates him, and Haas leans on Ferrari for power units and technical support. A realistic first-season target is regular points and a close fight with Bearman.
DOES RAFAEL CAMARA DESERVE THE HAAS SEAT
Yes, the Rafael Camara Haas 2027 deal is deserved on the evidence. He won titles in Formula Regional and Formula 3. Now he leads F2. Haas also watched him beat its other candidates in testing.
Deserving the seat is not the same as succeeding in it. The uneven Haas car and the thin F2 margin both add real risk. So the better question is how quickly he adapts. My call is that he will justify the pick within a season.
FAQ
Why Did Haas Choose Rafael Camara?
Haas chose Camara because he was the fastest driver in its Portimao test, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu. Strong junior results and Ferrari backing also supported the decision.
Who Is Rafael Camara’s Haas Teammate in 2027?
Oliver Bearman is expected to stay, but Haas has not formally confirmed it yet. Komatsu says he expects to do so very soon.
Is Rafael Camara the F2 Champion?
Not yet. Camara leads the 2026 F2 standings by seven points with two rounds left, so the title is still open.
How Old Is Rafael Camara?
Rafael Camara is 21. He was born on 5 May 2005 in Recife, Brazil.
