Rafael Camara: The next Ferrari protege Haas couldn’t turn down

Rafael Camara will step up to Formula 1 next season after impressing the Haas F1 Team enough to get the nod ahead of multiple other contenders.

The Brazilian has been part of Ferrari’s Driver Academy since 2022, when he was snapped up by the Scuderia much like current Haas driver Oliver Bearman.

Team Principal Ayao Komatsu was clear with what the team was looking for in their next driver: speed and a team-first mentality.

Based on Camara's career to date, and what has been said by those best-placed to assess his talents, it appears that Haas have picked the ideal candidate to complete their line-up for next season.

Speed

“You cannot teach them speed,” said Komatsu in Baku when discussing what Haas were looking for in their next driver, following the news that one-time race winner Esteban Ocon would be departing the US outfit at the end of the season.

“[They] need to be fast, but really [they] need to be a team player and especially for a small team like us.

"The two drivers, the integration into the team, how they motivate and drive the team, is very important.”

Renowned for his one-lap pace, Camara holds the record for most poles in a single FIA F3 season (five) and sits behind Charles Leclerc alone for most poles in a single F2 season, currently on five versus the Monegasque’s eight.

The Brazilian took part in a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) test for the American outfit and excited the team thoroughly with what he delivered.

Rivals for the seat included 2025 F2 Champion Leonardo Fornaroli, who is highly rated by McLaren, and Jack Doohan, who already has F1 experience under his belt. All told it was Camara that won over the team.

Team player

Earlier this season, and while he was still chasing his first victory in F2, Camara looked set to win around the streets of Monaco. An error whilst leading meant he had to wait.

One week on in Barcelona and Camara was at his very best. He was metronomic in pulling off an overcut strategy that required tyre conservation and consistent speed to leave his rivals well behind.

After the race, Camara’s Invicta Team Principal James Robinson paid tribute to the display, calling it “perfection” as he reflected on a great team effort.

“It was a really, really excellent strategy from him and his engineer and executed to perfection,” said Robinson. “I know there were a few comments on social media at the end of last week about the relationship between Rafa and his engineer.

“But I think that could not be more wrong in terms of the relationship there. Rafa, his engineer and the whole team have an absolutely magnificent relationship.

“Rafa's a brilliant part of the team. It’s great to finally convert the undoubted pace into a win and points. We feel very vindicated.”

Maturity

Driver confidence is crucial, as is quality of feedback. Komatsu said ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix that the team were working hard to provide their drivers with the best possible environment in which to succeed.

Jerome D’Ambrosio, Deputy Team Principal of Ferrari and the man overseeing the FDA, believes they are qualities Camara has in spades.

The Ferrari man revealed the extent of the Brazilian’s self-belief, as Camara took the initiative ahead of what turned out to be his most successful season to date.

“When you’ve got a talent like Rafa, this might sound harsh, but it is what you’re expecting and is what you want to see,” D’Ambrosio said last year.

“Our job is to support him in the best possible way so that he can deliver that and can express his talents to the maximum of its capacity.

“He has a unique way of knowing what he wants and what he needs to perform, which I think is extremely important for a driver.

“We had some discussions over the winter, which were quite interesting….as an academy, we were suggesting some things, and he said, ‘No, Jerome, this is what I need. This is what I want.’

“He knows what he wants or what he needs to perform, and that's a sign of maturity. That's a sign of strength.

“You have to know what you want, and you have to go for it. You have to believe in yourself, and you need to be objective by yourself also. Rafa has got these qualities.”

After winning the Formula Regional title in 2024, Camara has mirrored compatriot Gabriel Bortoleto’s success, winning the FIA Formula 3 title with TRIDENT. He currently heads the Formula 2 standings for Invicta with two rounds remaining.

Camara hasn’t finished lower than fifth in any series he’s entered and could become the first driver since Oscar Piastri to win three consecutive junior titles directly preceding F1 promotion.

He has consistently impressed those that work closely with him and has ticked all the boxes Haas set out. Next year he will set about impressing even more people with the way he operates in Formula 1.