Key Facts
- Report: Brazilian rookie Rafael Câmara is tipped to drive Ferrari in first practice at Interlagos.
- Status: Ferrari and Haas have not confirmed it.
- When: Friday 6 November, 10:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. São Paulo).
- Race: Sunday 8 November, noon ET (2 p.m. São Paulo), Round 20 of 23.
- Prediction markets: Kalshi priced Kimi Antonelli at 96% to win the 2026 drivers’ title at 9:52 p.m. ET on 23 October; Polymarket showed about 98%.
This story is part of our coverage of the São Paulo Grand Prix 2026. Session times in ET, tickets, how to watch in the US and how to get to Interlagos are in our guide.
Runoff · Sunday, 25 October
Brazil Runoff 2026: Lula vs Flávio
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Prediction markets · who wins the runoff
Implied chance of winning Brazil’s presidency on 25 October, from traders’ prices.
Polymarket
Flávio Bolsonaro 79.4% · Lula 20.5% (US$194 million traded)
Kalshi (regulated in the US by the CFTC)
Flávio Bolsonaro 78% · Lula 22%
As of 24 October, 2:40 am ET (07:40 Lisbon), updated every 20 minutes. Prices are bets, not polls, and can move fast.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
In plain English
Free practice is the Friday warm-up for a Formula 1 weekend, and teams must give some of those sessions to young drivers. Rafael Câmara is a Brazilian driver from Ferrari’s young-driver programme, and Haas has signed him for 2027.
Brazilian rookie Rafael Câmara is expected to drive Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in the first free-practice session at the São Paulo Grand Prix 2026, according to broadcaster Luciano Burti on 23 October 2026. Ferrari and Haas have not confirmed the plan.
Practice starts on Friday 6 November at 10:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. in São Paulo) at Interlagos, the São Paulo circuit officially named Autódromo José Carlos Pace. For US fans, it would be a first look at a Brazilian driver in a Ferrari before his full-time debut with Haas in 2027.
What Was Reported
Burti, a former Formula 1 driver and Brazilian TV commentator, said Câmara will take over Leclerc’s car for the session. Brazilian outlets Boletim do Paddock and Sportbuzz carried the report on 23 October.
Câmara has said there are good chances of a practice run at Interlagos but that the decision is not his. Under Formula 1 rules, teams must run rookie drivers in some Friday practice sessions each season.
Who Is Câmara?
Câmara is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, which trains the team’s young drivers. Haas, which uses Ferrari engines, has announced him as a race driver for 2027, alongside Oliver Bearman.
That would put two Brazilians on the 2027 grid, together with Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi, for the first time since 2016. Practice drives do not score points.
What Prediction Markets Say
No market covers the Câmara report, but traders see the drivers’ title as nearly settled. Kalshi, a US exchange regulated by the CFTC (the federal commodities regulator), priced Kimi Antonelli at 96% to win the 2026 drivers’ championship at 9:52 p.m. ET on 23 October, with about 9.7 million contracts traded. Polymarket showed about 98%.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
The Weekend and the Title
The United States Grand Prix in Austin runs from 23 to 25 October, followed by the Mexican Grand Prix from 30 October to 1 November. São Paulo is Round 20 of 23 and starts on 6 November.
Antonelli can clinch the title in Austin only if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower. Mercedes’ deputy team principal Bradley Lord put the chance at about one in 25.
On Sunday 8 November, Rubens Barrichello is also expected to drive his 2011 Williams FW33 in a roughly ten-minute historic lap on race day. That is a demonstration, not a championship session.
What It Means for US Readers
The race starts at noon ET on Sunday 8 November, a midday slot for US viewers. If the report is right, Friday practice at 10:30 a.m. ET becomes worth watching for Brazil’s home crowd.
A confirmed Câmara drive would also show how Ferrari uses its academy before a driver moves to a customer team such as Haas. The team’s official entry list should settle it before the weekend.
What Is Not Known
Neither Ferrari nor Haas has confirmed that Câmara will drive, and no FIA entry document shows the change. It is also unconfirmed whether Leclerc will give up the car for the whole session.
The report comes from a single broadcaster, repeated by Brazilian outlets, so the plan could change. We will update this story when the teams announce their practice line-ups.
Context: For more on this, see our bringing your pet to brazil the complete.
Context: our doing business in brazil a complete guide.
More: Brazil news, every day from The Rio Times.
Sources
Boletim do Paddock, Sportbuzz, Meio & Mensagem, Bahia Notícias, Vavel, Formula 1, Autosport, TimesLive, Kalshi (kalshi.com/markets/kxf1), Polymarket.
Read more: our São Paulo Grand Prix hub and the schedule update.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Rafael Câmara drive Ferrari at the São Paulo Grand Prix?
Not officially. Brazilian broadcaster Luciano Burti says he will take Charles Leclerc’s car in first practice, but Ferrari and Haas have not confirmed it.
When is first practice at Interlagos?
Friday 6 November, 10:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. São Paulo time). The race follows on Sunday 8 November at noon ET.
Who is Rafael Câmara?
A Brazilian driver in Ferrari’s young-driver programme. Haas announced him as a race driver for 2027, alongside Oliver Bearman.