Haas drafts Rafa Camara into F1 for Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Haas replaces Esteban Ocon with F2 leader Rafa Camara for the remainder of the season following disputes in Mexico City. The 21-year-old Brazilian driver faces significant challenges at Interlagos, including unfamiliarity with the 2026 car and unpredictable weather conditions.
Sudden replacement for Esteban Ocon
Haas drafted Rafa Camara into the VF-26 for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix following Esteban Ocon’s dismissal after disputes during the Mexico City weekend. This 21-year-old Brazilian, who leads the F2 standings with 207 points, replaces Ocon for the rest of the season. Ryo Hirakawa cannot race in Brazil. He is competing in the WEC finale at Monza after deputizing for Ocon in Mexico. I view the Haas decision to pull Camara forward as a direct result of his performance during a private test in Portimao where he beat regular driver Oliver Bearman. This Ferrari junior is already signed for a 2027 seat, but the sudden vacancy forces an early introduction to the grid.
Camara won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship with Prema and the FIA Formula 3 title in 2025 with Trident. He has taken three victories and seven podiums from 25 starts in F2 this year.
Weather and track hurdles
Camara faces a steep learning curve at Interlagos because he has never driven a 2026 F1 car or raced at this specific circuit before. He arrives with minimal preparation time. The unpredictable weather at Interlagos, featuring a 60 to 70 per cent chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and a 40 to 50 per cent rain risk on Sunday, adds to the difficulty for a driver with almost no preparation time. Friday practice expects overcast skies and 24°C temperatures. On Saturday, the temperature reaches 29°C. On Sunday, the temperature drops to 17°C. I think the combination of an unfamiliar track, the sudden shift in temperature, and the high probability of thunderstorms makes this a true baptism of fire. He must manage the quirks of the 2026 car because he spent little time in the simulator. He was originally scheduled to conduct FP1 sessions for Ferrari in Maranello, which gave him some simulator work.
The F2 championship decision
The decision regarding the remaining F2 rounds in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi remains undecided. Camara holds a seven-point lead over Nikola Tsolov in the standings. Because of the complexity of running both series, he may have to sacrifice the F2 title if he races in the final three F1 rounds.
| Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 380 |
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 261 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 259 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | 250 |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 245 |
| Lando Norris | McLaren | 221 |
| Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 150 |
| Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 105 |
| Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 79 |
| Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 43 |
| Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 38 |
| Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 31 |
| Oliver Bearman | Haas | 23 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 13 |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 10 |
| Esteban Ocon | Haas | 7 |
| Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 7 |
| Carlos Sainz | Williams | 7 |
| Alexander Albon | Williams | 5 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1 |
Gabriel Bortoleto, who won the 2024 F2 title, advised Camara to focus on securing his championship prestige. "I think having a title like F2 or F3 to your name, especially when only a few drivers have done it in their first year, is something you are proud to have," Bortoleto said. Camara told reporters that he will discuss his future after the weekend concludes. "I’m just really trying to learn as much as I can," the reigning FIA F3 champion said. He also added, "Just being able to do my first F1 race here in front of everyone, would be something very special."
