BRAZIL · FORMULA 1
Key Facts
- —What is happening On Thursday, 15 October, the American team TGR Haas F1 Team announced a multi-year contract for Brazil’s Rafael Câmara, 21, to race in Formula 1 from 2027, replacing Esteban Ocon.
- —Why it matters Brazil will have two full-time Formula 1 drivers for the first time since 2016, and Câmara becomes the 34th Brazilian in the sport and the first from the Northeast.
- —The numbers Câmara leads the Formula 2 standings with 207 points, seven ahead of Nikola Tsolov on 200, with two rounds left, while Haas sits seventh among constructors with 30 points.
- —Who is who Câmara is a Ferrari Driver Academy member who won the 2025 Formula 3 title, and Haas is a Kannapolis, North Carolina team led by Ayao Komatsu that uses Ferrari engines.
- —What to watch The Formula 2 title will be settled over the last two rounds, in Qatar on 27 to 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 4 to 6 December, before his first Formula 1 season.
- —Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you For US fans, a US-based team will field a Brazilian rookie from 2027, and the next Formula 1 race on US soil is the United States Grand Prix in Austin on 23 to 25 October.
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TGR Haas F1 Team, the American Formula 1 outfit, has signed Brazil’s Rafael Câmara, 21, to race from 2027. He leads the Formula 2 standings and will be the 34th Brazilian in Formula 1.
Rafael Câmara, a 21-year-old Brazilian, will drive for the American team Haas in Formula 1 from 2027. TGR Haas F1 Team announced the multi-year deal on Thursday, 15 October, at about 10 a.m. ET.
Haas is based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and uses Ferrari engines. CNN Brasil says Câmara takes the seat of Esteban Ocon, whose exit at the end of 2026 Haas announced on 30 September.
What Haas Announced About Rafael Câmara
Formula 1’s official website published the statements, which describe a multi-year contract with no length or financial terms. Câmara said he was very happy to join the team as a Formula 1 driver.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu, who leads Haas’s racing operation, said he was excited to sign such a young, amazing talent. He cited the speed Câmara has shown in difficult moments, such as qualifying, and his test in Portugal.
Gene Haas, the team’s owner, said he was excited to see what Câmara can achieve in Formula 1. He added that younger drivers are well prepared and can make an immediate impact on a team.
Who the Brazilian Driver Is
Câmara joined the Ferrari Driver Academy, Ferrari’s youth programme, in 2022. He won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship and the 2025 FIA Formula 3 title with the Trident team.
This season he races for Invicta Racing in Formula 2, the last step below Formula 1. After winning in Baku, he leads the standings with 207 points, seven ahead of Nikola Tsolov.
Tsolov, a Red Bull-backed rookie, has 200 points, and two rounds remain, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The Qatar round runs from 27 to 29 November and the Abu Dhabi finale from 4 to 6 December.
In August, Câmara drove Haas’s 2025 car in a Testing of Previous Cars session at Portimão, Portugal. Formula 1’s website says he is believed to have stood out quickly against Haas reserves Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa.
Why Haas Is Taking a Risk on a Rookie
Formula 1’s website calls promoting a rookie a risk. It notes that Câmara has yet to test current Formula 1 machinery on a Grand Prix weekend.
It says Komatsu took confidence from an earlier chance on Oliver Bearman, who drives the team’s other car. Gene Haas pointed to Bearman’s similar path, and Formula 1’s website calls him a fellow Ferrari-backed driver.
Ferrari has partnered with Haas since the American team entered Formula 1 in 2016. Haas is seventh in the constructors’ standings with 30 points, 26 from Grands Prix and four from sprints.
Formula 1’s website says Bearman has 23 of those points, with a best finish of fifth in China. Ocon has seven and leaves at the end of the season.
What It Means for Brazil
Lance, a Brazilian sports daily, and CNN Brasil count Câmara as the 34th Brazilian in Formula 1 and first from the Northeast. The Folha de Pernambuco daily and that network say he is from Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state.
Gabriel Bortoleto drives for Audi, so Brazil will have two drivers on the 2027 grid. Both outlets say that is the first time since 2016, when Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr raced.
The São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos on 6 to 8 November is the next Formula 1 weekend in Brazil. See the São Paulo Grand Prix guide, and What to Do in Recife in October 2026 for his home city.
What It Means for US Readers
Haas is an American team in Formula 1 with its base in Kannapolis, North Carolina. From 2027 it will field a Brazilian rookie developed in Ferrari’s academy.
The next US race is the United States Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, from 23 to 25 October. Ocon and Bearman remain Haas’s race drivers there, and no Câmara session has been announced.
Formula 1’s website calls Câmara a very attractive proposition commercially, without naming sponsors. Any sponsorship tied to his move is not public.
For background on Brazil’s ties with the United States, see the guide to foreign powers and investors in Brazil. For Brazilian culture and public figures, see Brazil culture and its key figures.
What Is Not Known
The announcement gave no contract length or financial terms. The size of Câmara’s sponsorship backing from Brazil is also not public.
Haas has not confirmed Bearman’s 2027 deal, which Formula 1’s website calls likely. Published tallies of Câmara’s Formula 2 wins differ between sources, so this article gives none.
The Formula 2 title is still open, with a seven-point lead and two rounds left. The sources reviewed do not say whether he will drive a Haas car in any 2026 session.
Dates to Watch
The United States Grand Prix runs from 23 to 25 October in Austin, Texas. The São Paulo Grand Prix follows from 6 to 8 November at Interlagos.
The Formula 2 season ends in Qatar from 27 to 29 November and in Abu Dhabi from 4 to 6 December. That decides whether Câmara arrives in Formula 1 as champion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rafael Câmara?
Rafael Câmara is a 21-year-old Brazilian driver from the Ferrari Driver Academy. He leads the 2026 Formula 2 standings and won the 2025 Formula 3 title.
Which Formula 1 team has signed Rafael Câmara?
TGR Haas F1 Team, an American team based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, signed him on a multi-year contract. He will race for Haas from 2027.
Who does Rafael Câmara replace at Haas?
He replaces Esteban Ocon, who leaves Haas at the end of the 2026 season. Haas announced Ocon’s departure on 30 September.
How many Brazilians will race in Formula 1 in 2027?
Two Brazilians will race, Câmara at Haas and Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi. Brazil last had two drivers on the grid in 2016, with Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr.
When is the next Formula 1 race in the United States?
The United States Grand Prix is at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, from 23 to 25 October. Ocon and Bearman are Haas’s race drivers there.
Can Rafael Câmara still win Formula 2?
Yes, he leads Nikola Tsolov by seven points, 207 to 200, with two rounds left. They are in Qatar on 27 to 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 4 to 6 December.
Sources: Formula 1, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara promoted to F1 with Haas for 2027; Formula 1, why Haas decided to risk promoting rookie Camara; Formula 1, the next Ferrari protege Haas couldn’t turn down; Formula 1, TGR Haas F1 Team profile; Formula 1, 2026 calendar; Formula 1, 2026 United States Grand Prix; FIA Formula 2, drivers’ standings; TGR Haas F1 Team, statement on Esteban Ocon, 30 September; Lance, Rafa Câmara fecha com a Haas; Lance, Câmara chega como 34º piloto brasileiro da F1; CNN Brasil; Folha de Pernambuco, Rafael Câmara (all accessed 15 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief