Haas signs Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon for 2027

Camara secures multi-year contract

Haas confirmed Rafael Camara as a Formula 1 driver for the 2027 season. The 21-year-old Brazilian signed a multi-year contract to replace Esteban Ocon. Camara currently leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points over Nikola Tsolov, a driver linked to a Racing Bulls seat. His rapid rise through the junior categories includes the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship and the 2025 Formula 3 title. During his 2025 Formula 3 campaign, he secured five pole positions out of nine attempts. He holds five poles from 13 starts in Formula 2. His qualifying record in the Formula Regional European Championship included seven poles, which surpassed all other drivers. This performance mirrors the 2015 GP3 season of Luca Ghiotto, who also took five poles in nine races but lost the title to Ocon.

The decision to replace Ocon

Ayao Komatsu and Gene Haas selected Camara after a process that included Leonardo Fornaroli and Jack Doohan. PlanetF1 reports the decision came down to a choice between Doohan and Camara. The team decision followed Camara’s testing at Portimao where some members of the Haas staff believed his pace exceeded that of Oliver Bearman even though Bearman also drove during the session to establish a reference. This move replaces Ocon, who joined the team at the start of 2025. Ocon faced issues with the VF-26 inconsistency for a long period. The Frenchman told reporters he "doesn’t deserve this shit" regarding his replacement. Haas has previously failed with rookie drivers such as Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. While Ocon won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix and scored in every round except two during his 2017 season with Force India, the team now focuses on potential. Ocon scored 92 points in 2022, which was 11 more than teammate Fernando Alonso. Ocon is one of only two drivers, alongside Jenson Button, to outscore Fernando Alonso in a season as teammates. He also once came close to a career-changing move to Mercedes during their dominant years. The decision to sign Camara is a gamble on raw speed. Some observers suggest Haas is becoming a Ferrari junior outfit because they field drivers who receive support from the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy.

The 2027 Haas lineup

The 2027 Haas lineup will consist of Rafael Camara and Oliver Bearman. Bearman holds a contract option for 2027 that the team can trigger. Both drivers receive backing from the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. The combined age of the two drivers is 42, which is three years younger than Fernando Alonso’s age of 45. Camara showed significant speed in qualifying at Monaco and Montreal during his rookie Formula 2 season. Bearman has already demonstrated his ability by competing against Nico Hulkenberg in Saudi Arabia. As of October 15, 2026, only five seats remain on the 2027 grid. These vacant seats belong to Mercedes, Racing Bulls, and Haas. The confirmed 2027 grid includes Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, alongside Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon at Williams. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto will race for Alpine, while Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will race for Cadillac.