Who Is Rafael Camara? Ferrari Junior Tipped For Haas F1 Seat

Rafael Câmara is a Brazilian racing driver and member of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, currently competing in Formula 2 with Invicta Racing. Born on May 5, 2005, in Recife, Camara has built one of the strongest junior-racing résumés of his generation and is now being linked with a move to Formula 1.

Reports from GPblog suggest Haas is closing in on Camara as a potential replacement for Esteban Ocon for the 2027 season, although the deal has not yet been finalised or officially announced.

How did Rafael Camara start racing?

Camara began karting at a young age and emerged as a prominent talent in international competition. By 2019, he was regularly winning races in the SKUSA Super Master Series.

His breakthrough came in 2021. He won the WSK Champions Cup and WSK Super Master Cup at Adria in Italy before adding the Champions of the Future title in Belgium. His performances earned him an invitation to the Ferrari Driver Academy's World Finals, where he impressed despite limited experience in Formula 4 machinery.

Camara subsequently became the third Brazilian to join the Ferrari academy, following former Ferrari juniors Enzo Fittipaldi and Gianluca Petecof.

He made his single-seater debut in 2022 with Prema, competing in the UAE and Italian Formula 4 championships while also making selected appearances in Germany. He recorded nine victories across the three championships.

Why is Rafael Camara linked with Haas?

Haas reportedly considered three main candidates for its 2027 seat: McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli, Haas reserve Ryo Hirakawa and Camara.

GPblog reported that Haas had settled on the 21-year-old Brazilian, with multiple sources in the F1 paddock putting the likelihood of the deal at around 90 per cent. However, the report stressed that the agreement was not completely finalised.

Camara's Ferrari connection could also play a role. If the move goes ahead, Haas would have two Ferrari-affiliated drivers under contract in 2027, with Oliver Bearman expected to remain with the team for a third season.

For Camara, it would represent the next step in a rapid climb through the junior categories - and a potential Formula 1 debut just two years after winning the FIA Formula 3 championship.

What has Rafael Camara achieved in Formula 3 and Formula Regional?

Camara's rise accelerated in 2024 when he dominated the Formula Regional European Championship with Prema. He won eight races, secured five pole positions and wrapped up the championship with one round still remaining.

That earned him a promotion to FIA Formula 3 with Trident for 2025.

He continued his progress by winning four Feature Races, adding five podiums and four fastest laps. His qualifying pace was particularly impressive, with five pole positions during the season. Camara secured the F3 title with one race weekend still to run.

How is Rafael Camara performing in Formula 2?

Camara moved up to Formula 2 in 2026 with Invicta Racing and has continued to challenge at the front despite being a rookie.

According to the GPblog report dated September 16, Camara has two victories and multiple podium finishes and sits second in the championship with 170 points, seven behind leader Nikola Tsolov.

That progression - Formula Regional champion in 2024, FIA Formula 3 champion in 2025 and a title contender in his first F2 season - has put him firmly into the conversation for a Formula 1 promotion.