Brazilian Ferrari Driver Academy member who made his Formula 1 race debut for Haas at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix ahead of a full-time seat in 2027.
Rafael Câmara at Haas: 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Debut and 2027 Race Seat
**The Immediate Answer:** Rafael Câmara is a 21-year-old Brazilian racing driver in the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy who signed a multi-year contract on 15 October 2026 to race full-time for the [Haas F1 Team](/teams/haas) starting in 2027. After Haas confirmed on 3 November 2026 that [Esteban Ocon](/drivers/esteban-ocon) would not return for the rest of the 2026 season, the team moved Câmara's Formula 1 race debut forward to his home race, the [2026 São Paulo Grand Prix](/f1/sao-paulo-grand-prix) (6 to 8 November 2026), where he qualified 13th, started 11th and finished 20th.
Born in Recife on 5 May 2005, Câmara won back-to-back titles in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (2024) and the FIA Formula 3 Championship (2025). As of 9 November 2026, he leads the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship on 207 points with two rounds remaining, and Haas has not announced who will drive its second car in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Rafael Câmara: Fast Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2026 F1 role | TGR Haas F1 Team race driver at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix |
| 2027 F1 contract | TGR Haas F1 Team, multi-year contract starting in 2027 (announced 15 October 2026) |
| Car number (2026 São Paulo GP) | 51 |
| Expected 2027 car number | 50 (stated by Câmara in October 2026; not official as of 9 November 2026) |
| 2026 F1 teammate (São Paulo) | Oliver Bearman |
| Date of birth | 5 May 2005 |
| Birthplace | Recife, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Age | 21 |
| Junior program | Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy |
| 2026 Formula 2 program | Invicta Racing (Car 1), 1st in the standings on 207 points as of 9 November 2026 |
Rafael Câmara F1 Career Stats (as of 9 November 2026)
- **Grands Prix:** 1 (2026 São Paulo Grand Prix)
- **Wins:** 0
- **Podiums:** 0
- **Best finish:** 20th (2026 São Paulo Grand Prix)
- **Best qualifying:** 13th, started 11th (2026 São Paulo Grand Prix)
- **Fastest laps:** 0 (personal best race lap 1:14.369, 14th fastest at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix)
- **Points:** 0 (classified 25th in the 2026 Drivers' Standings as of 9 November 2026)
- **Team:** TGR Haas F1 Team
How Did His 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Weekend Go, Session by Session?
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos) on 6 to 8 November 2026 was Round 20 of the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship and ran as a standard three-day weekend with no Sprint. Having never driven in a Formula 1 Grand Prix FP1 session before, Câmara stepped straight into the Haas VF-26 alongside [Oliver Bearman](/drivers/oliver-bearman).
| Session | What happened |
|---|---|
| FP1 (Friday 6 November 2026) | Finished 18th (+1.979s, 30 laps) in Car 51 |
| FP2 (Friday 6 November 2026) | Finished 16th (+1.798s, 30 laps). Received a driving reprimand for impeding Charles Leclerc at Turn 15 (FIA Document 25) |
| FP3 (Saturday 7 November 2026) | Finished 15th (+1.359s, 19 laps), ahead of teammate Oliver Bearman in 16th |
| Qualifying (Saturday 7 November 2026) | Qualified 13th in wet conditions (Q1 1:32.809, Q2 1:31.515, 18 laps). Survived a spin and wall contact in Q1 before crashing into the barrier at the last corner in Q2, bringing out the red flags. Bearman qualified 8th (1:29.831, 22 laps) |
| Starting Grid (Sunday 8 November 2026) | Qualified 13th and started 11th after grid penalties for other drivers. Bearman started 6th |
| Race (Sunday 8 November 2026) | Classified 20th in the final race classification (FIA Document 81), completing 69 laps (+2 laps behind the winner's time of 1:35:23.504), 0 points. Made three pit stops (laps 15, 49 and 59) and set a personal best lap of 1:14.369 (14th fastest). Bearman finished 17th (+1 lap) |
The FP2 Reprimand and Wet Q2 Crash
During Free Practice 2 on Friday 6 November 2026 at 16:31 local time, Câmara impeded Ferrari's [Charles Leclerc](/drivers/charles-leclerc) (Car 16) at Turn 15. In FIA Document 25, the stewards issued a driving reprimand (Câmara's first reprimand of the 2026 season) for a breach of Article B4.1.1 of the FIA Formula 1 Regulations, writing: "The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 51 (Rafael Camara), team representatives and reviewed video, team radio and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 51 was warned multiple times that Car 16 (LEC) was arriving on a fast lap. Yet, Car 51 was weaving and moving well into the racing line. Car 16 had to take evasive action to avoid a collision by moving to the right, with a significant amount of the car off the track. The situation that was created was clearly dangerous and Car 51 should have taken more care to avoid impeding Car 16. While the typical penalty for impeding in a Free Practice session is a warning, in this instance, we are of the view that a reprimand is warranted."
Haas Head of Car Engineering Hoagy Nidd gave the team's view of the Turn 15 incident after Friday practice: "He's full throttle. He's starting a lap. He can't really move any further to the right in the end, but it's just one of those things. He's absolutely flat out at that point."
On Saturday, qualifying ran in heavy rain and standing water. Câmara spun and touched the wall during Q1 but progressed to Q2 with a 1:32.809. In Q2, after posting a 1:31.515, he locked up at the last corner and slid into the barrier, bringing out the red flags and ending his session in 13th. He qualified 13th and started 11th after grid penalties for other drivers. In Sunday's race, he stopped on laps 15, 49 and 59 and finished 20th (69 laps, +2 laps, 0 points) in the final classification published by the FIA at 18:45 local time on 8 November 2026 (FIA Document 81). Our [São Paulo Grand Prix guide](/f1/sao-paulo-grand-prix) covers the circuit and the race weekend.
Why Did Haas Sign Rafael Câmara for 2027 and Call Him Up Early in 2026?
Câmara's move to a Formula 1 race seat happened in two stages between mid-October and early November 2026:
- **15 October 2026 (full-time 2027 contract):** Haas announced "the signing of Rafael Câmara on a multi-year contract" starting at the beginning of the 2027 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, with formula1.com reporting that he was stepping up "after signing a multi-year deal with American squad Haas." [Esteban Ocon](/drivers/esteban-ocon) was already confirmed to be leaving Haas at the end of the 2026 season. Neither Haas nor Formula 1 has published an end year for Câmara's contract.
- **2026 Mexico City Grand Prix (Ocon stood down):** As covered on our [Ryo Hirakawa profile](/drivers/ryo-hirakawa), "Haas put him in Esteban Ocon's car for the rest of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend after Friday practice", where reserve driver Hirakawa finished 10th to score 1 point. Our Hirakawa page also noted: "Haas has named Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara for 2027." and "As of 2 November 2026, Haas has not said who will drive the car at the São Paulo Grand Prix."
- **3 November 2026 (Ocon's 2026 exit and Câmara's Brazil call-up):** On 3 November 2026 (dated 4 November 2026 on Haas's website), Haas announced that "Esteban Ocon will no longer compete on its behalf in the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship" and named Câmara to drive alongside Bearman in São Paulo. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu stated: "We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with TGR Haas F1 Team this season."
Before Ocon's departure, Câmara "had been due to make his first FP1 appearance in a current car with Ferrari" at São Paulo. Hirakawa had a commitment at the Monza World Endurance Championship race on the same weekend, and Komatsu explained on 6 November 2026 that putting Câmara straight into the race seat was "a tough decision" reached after speaking with him "on Sunday night, Monday, Tuesday". Komatsu pointed to a "shoot-out" during Haas's August 2026 Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) evaluation in the VF-25 at Portimão: "Having excelled in his TPC outing in August, we know Rafa's capabilities".
When Haas announced his 2027 deal on 15 October 2026, Câmara said: "I'm very happy to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team as a Formula 1 driver" and added: "There will be a lot to learn, and I'm looking forward to working closely with the team". Komatsu said: "I'm really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent like Rafael Câmara", while team owner Gene Haas said: "I'm excited to see what Rafael Câmara can achieve in Formula 1 having seen his accomplishments".
Will Rafael Câmara Race in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in 2026?
Not confirmed. As of 9 November 2026, Haas has confirmed Câmara only for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix and has not announced who will drive the second VF-26 alongside Bearman in the final three rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season: the Las Vegas Grand Prix (19 to 21 November 2026), the Qatar Grand Prix (27 to 29 November 2026) and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (4 to 6 December 2026).
The final two rounds of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship at Lusail in Qatar (Round 13, 27 to 29 November 2026) and Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi (Round 14, 4 to 6 December 2026) fall on the same weekends as the Formula 1 Grands Prix. As of 9 November 2026, Câmara leads the F2 drivers' standings with 207 points, ahead of Nikola Tsolov on 200 points and Alexander Dunne on 189 points. Speaking on 6 November 2026, Komatsu called the F2 championship a "complication" and said of Haas's plans for the remaining races: "I'd just like to take it one step at a time, really."
Rafael Câmara Career Timeline
Karting and Formula 4 (2021 to 2022)
Born in Recife, Brazil on 5 May 2005, Câmara won the WSK Champions Cup, the WSK Super Master Cup, and the Champions of the Future class in the European championship in 2021. Selected at the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals, he became the third Brazilian to join the Academy, and stepped up to single-seaters in Formula 4 with Prema in 2022, finishing 2nd overall in the Formula 4 UAE Championship, 3rd in the Italian F4 Championship and 3rd in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship, taking "nine wins over the three championships".
Formula Regional and FIA Formula 3 Titles (2023 to 2025)
In 2023, Câmara finished 3rd in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) and 5th in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). In 2024, he finished 3rd again in FRMEC before winning the 2024 FRECA title "with one round in hand", recording 309 points, 7 wins, 12 podiums and 7 pole positions. Moving into the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025, he won the championship in his first season in the series with four wins, all in Feature Races, five podiums and four fastest laps.
2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship Lead and F1 Testing
For 2026, Câmara graduated to FIA Formula 2 with Invicta Racing in Car 1. As of 9 November 2026, he sits 1st in the championship on 207 points, ahead of Nikola Tsolov (200 points) and Alexander Dunne (189 points). He has recorded 3 Feature Race wins in 2026 (in Spain, Belgium and Azerbaijan) and 5 pole positions. Alongside his F2 season, Haas noted in its 2027 announcement that "Subsequently, Câmara has experienced Formula 1 machinery through the relationship with Scuderia Ferrari and various test opportunities", and formula1.com reports that he has completed Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) runs with both Haas and Ferrari, including his August 2026 test in the Haas VF-25 at Portimão.
How Brazilian Journalists Describe His Driving and Rise
Brazilian F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli, speaking to the official FIA Formula 2 website after his 2027 Haas deal was announced, noted that earlier in his career "he had to face Kimi Antonelli and he wasn't as strong against Kimi", and described the contrast between his personality outside and inside the cockpit: his "personality is a bit shy", but "when he puts the helmet on, it's almost as if he's a different person." She added: "I think you're going to be surprised by him."
Brazilian F1 broadcaster Mariana Becker placed his arrival alongside [Gabriel Bortoleto](/drivers/gabriel-bortoleto) on the Formula 1 grid: she called Brazil's new drivers "at least the fourth generation of driver now", after Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, and said of Câmara: "And now there's Rafa." Becker added that Haas "seems to be a nice environment for him to grow up".
Key Career Milestones
| Year | Series or Event | Team | Result and Confirmed Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Karting | Won WSK Champions Cup, WSK Super Master Cup, and Champions of the Future class in the European championship | |
| 2022 | Formula 4 (UAE, Italian, ADAC) | 2nd in UAE, 3rd in Italian F4, 3rd in ADAC F4; nine wins over the three championships; first season as a Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member | |
| 2023 | FRMEC and FRECA | 3rd in FRMEC, 5th in FRECA | |
| 2024 | FRMEC and FRECA | 3rd in FRMEC; FRECA Champion with one round in hand (record 309 points, 7 wins, 12 podiums, 7 poles) | |
| 2025 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | Champion (4 Feature Race wins, 5 podiums, 4 fastest laps) | |
| 2026 | FIA Formula 2 Championship | Invicta Racing | 1st on 207 points as of 9 November 2026 (3 Feature Race wins in Spain, Belgium and Azerbaijan; 5 poles) |
| 2026 | Haas F1 TPC test, Portimão | TGR Haas F1 Team | First drove for Haas in August 2026 in the VF-25 |
| 2026 | São Paulo Grand Prix | TGR Haas F1 Team | F1 race debut in Car 51: qualified 13th, started 11th, classified 20th (69 laps, +2 laps, 0 points) |
| 2027 | FIA Formula 1 World Championship | TGR Haas F1 Team | Signed on a multi-year contract starting in 2027 (announced 15 October 2026) |
Where He Fits at Haas
| Driver | 2026 Role and Standings (as of 9 November 2026) | 2027 Status (as of 9 November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| [Oliver Bearman](/drivers/oliver-bearman) | Race driver; 13th in the 2026 Drivers' Standings with 23 points | Formula 1 states he "is likely to retain his seat"; Komatsu said on 30 October 2026 that "we want to continue working together", though no formal 2027 announcement had been made as of 9 November 2026 |
| [Esteban Ocon](/drivers/esteban-ocon) | Race driver until Mexico City FP2; 16th in the 2026 Drivers' Standings with 7 points; notified before São Paulo that he will not return in 2026 | Leaving Haas at the end of 2026 |
| [Ryo Hirakawa](/drivers/ryo-hirakawa) | Reserve driver; replaced Ocon from FP3 at the 2026 Mexico City GP and finished 10th; 21st in the 2026 Drivers' Standings with 1 point | Reserve driver; had a commitment at the Monza WEC race on the São Paulo GP weekend |
| Rafael Câmara | Race stand-in at the 2026 São Paulo GP (Car 51); 25th in the 2026 Drivers' Standings with 0 points; status for Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi not announced | Full-time race driver on a multi-year contract starting in 2027; expects to use Car 50 |
On 30 October 2026, Komatsu dismissed rumors about a delay to Bearman's contract extension: "Why do we engage in such absolute nonsense, what's the point of it?" and added that "it's very clear from both parties, from Ollie's side, we want to continue working together."
For his 2026 debut in São Paulo, Câmara raced with number 51. For his full-time 2027 seat, he told Motorsport Week in October 2026 that he expects to choose number 50: "Yes, so I think we'll be using the 50", explaining: "But yeah, it's 50 because basically, my birthday is 5-5-05." and "I spoke with my dad and he said it's 50. It makes sense with the birthday date!" As of 9 November 2026, the FIA has not published the official 2027 entry list, and the official Haas team store still lists only Ocon and Bearman under its drivers menu, with no Rafael Câmara merchandise on sale yet. See the [Haas team page](/teams/haas) for more on the team.
Who is Rafael Câmara?
Rafael Câmara is a 21-year-old Brazilian racing driver and Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member (born 5 May 2005 in Recife). He won the 2024 FRECA title and the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship, leads the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship on 207 points as of 9 November 2026, and made his Formula 1 debut for Haas at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix ahead of a full-time Haas seat in 2027.
How did Rafael Câmara do on his Formula 1 debut at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix?
Driving Car 51 for Haas, he finished 18th in FP1, 16th in FP2 (receiving a driving reprimand for impeding Charles Leclerc at Turn 15), and 15th in FP3 ahead of teammate Oliver Bearman. He qualified 13th after crashing at the last corner in wet Q2 conditions, started 11th after grid penalties for other drivers, and finished 20th in the race (69 laps, +2 laps, 0 points).
Why did Rafael Câmara replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for the São Paulo Grand Prix?
After standing Esteban Ocon down after Friday practice in Mexico City (where reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa finished 10th), Haas confirmed on 3 November 2026 that Ocon would not return for the rest of the 2026 season. With Hirakawa committed to the Monza WEC race that weekend and Câmara already signed for 2027 after impressing in an August 2026 TPC test at Portimão, Haas promoted Câmara for his home Grand Prix.
Will Rafael Câmara drive for Haas in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in 2026?
As of 9 November 2026, Haas has confirmed Câmara only for the São Paulo Grand Prix and has not announced who will drive the second car in Las Vegas (19 to 21 November), Qatar (27 to 29 November) or Abu Dhabi (4 to 6 December). Qatar and Abu Dhabi fall on the same weekends as the final two rounds of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship, which Câmara leads on 207 points ahead of Nikola Tsolov on 200.
What is Rafael Câmara's Formula 1 contract for 2027?
On 15 October 2026, TGR Haas F1 Team announced that Câmara had signed a multi-year contract starting at the beginning of the 2027 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Neither Haas nor Formula 1 has published an end year for the deal.
What car number does Rafael Câmara use in Formula 1?
He raced with number 51 at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix. In October 2026, he told Motorsport Week that he expects to use number 50 for his full-time debut in 2027 as a nod to his birth date (5 May 2005, or 5-5-05), though the 2027 number is not official as of 9 November 2026.
How old is Rafael Câmara and where was he born?
He was born on 5 May 2005 in Recife, Brazil, making him 21 years old at the time of his November 2026 Formula 1 debut.
How We Researched This Page
- **Official:** formula1.com (driver profile, 2027 contract and 2026 São Paulo call-up announcements, Ayao Komatsu and qualifying articles, and 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix FP1, FP2, FP3, qualifying, starting grid, pit stops, fastest laps, race result and 2026 Drivers' Standings), haasf1team.com (15 October 2026 2027 driver announcement and 4 November 2026 driver update), fia.com (2026 São Paulo Grand Prix Stewards Decision Document 25 and Final Race Classification Document 81), ferrari.com (Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy biography), fiaformula2.com (driver profile, 2026 standings, 2026 calendar, and interviews with Julianne Cerasoli and Mariana Becker), formularegionaleubyalpine.com (2024 FRECA season review), and haasf1.shop (driver merchandise check), checked 8 to 10 November 2026.
- **Media:** Motorsport Week and Speedweek (October 2026 quotes on his planned 2027 car number 50).
- **Conflicts resolved in favor of official sources:** where sources disagreed on contract duration, 2024 FRECA statistics, 2026 Formula 2 podium totals or fastest-lap numbering, we followed the official Formula 1, FIA, Haas and championship records and left out conflicting figures.
- **Expiring details:** Haas's driver line-up for Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the 2026 F1 and F2 championship standings, Oliver Bearman's 2027 contract status, and Câmara's 2027 permanent car number are stated as of 9 November 2026.
- **Photo:** Rafael Câmara at the 2022 Italian Formula 4 round at Spa-Francorchamps, by KVYTICAL, via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rafael_C%C3%A2mara_in_2022.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0.