Rafa Camara is set to make his Formula 1® debut with Haas at the 2026 Brazil Grand Prix, stepping in to replace Esteban Ocon, who will not be racing for the team again this season. This marks an early promotion for Camara, who is currently leading the Formula 2 standings and is a Ferrari junior driver signed to race for Haas in 2027.
The Haas F1 Team confirmed that Esteban Ocon’s tenure with the squad will end following a series of strained relations, culminating in a heated exchange during the Mexico Grand Prix. Team principal Ayao Komatsu stated that the decision to remove Ocon from the race lineup was made in the best interest of the team. Ocon was temporarily replaced by reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, a Toyota protégé, who scored a point on his debut at the Mexico GP.
Rafa Camara’s debut will take place on home soil in Brazil, driving the Haas VF-26. His early promotion comes after impressing the team during private testing sessions, including a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outing in August where he drove the Haas VF-25. Camara’s strong performance in Formula 2 has positioned him as a promising talent within the Ferrari junior programme.
Following Camara’s early debut, Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic will take part in Friday’s first practice session (FP1) for Ferrari instead of Camara. The driver lineup for the remaining 2026 races, including Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, has yet to be confirmed. It is possible that Haas will continue to rotate between Camara and Hirakawa for these events.
This development highlights Haas’s ongoing driver strategy as they prepare for the 2027 season, where Camara is already signed to race. The decision to bring him in early reflects the team’s confidence in his abilities and potential to adapt quickly to the demands of Formula 1® competition.
While details about the internal reasons behind Ocon’s removal remain confidential, the official statements from Haas emphasize the importance of team cohesion and performance. Camara’s debut at the Brazil Grand Prix will be a significant step in his career and an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the top tier of motorsport.
The situation also underscores the close relationship between Haas and Ferrari, with driver development programmes influencing team decisions and driver placements during the season. Camara’s progress in Formula 2 and his testing performances have evidently played a key role in Haas’s choice to accelerate his entry into Formula 1®.