Rafael Câmara says he is ready for F1 after Ferrari and Haas tests

Summary

Câmara has tested previous F1 cars with Ferrari and Haas and says each session helped him improve.
He believes driving the car is only part of the step up; the demands outside the cockpit will also change.
Haas has not announced its 2027 drivers. Câmara is among the candidates the team has evaluated.

Rafael Câmara believes he is ready to race in Formula 1 in 2027 after a series of tests with Ferrari and Haas. The Brazilian has driven Ferrari’s 2025 car in multiple sessions and took part in a Haas test at Portimão in August, building experience while the American team considers its next driver line-up.

Câmara first drove the Ferrari SF-25 in Budapest in May. Further outings followed, including another Ferrari test at Imola. At Portimão, Haas evaluated him alongside Leonardo Fornaroli and Ryō Hirakawa, with current driver Oliver Bearman also providing a reference.

Speaking to The Race, Câmara said the running had given him both confidence and a clearer understanding of what he still needed to learn.

“The tests we carried out as part of the previous-car programme were always positive. I was able to learn and improve through them, and I’m pleased with what I did,” Câmara said.

“It was very good to have so many opportunities to test an F1 car. In a way, that has allowed me to be better prepared and in better shape for what may come next,” he added.

Câmara sees the biggest adjustment beyond the cockpit

Asked whether he felt ready for a full-time F1 seat, Câmara did not hesitate. He argued that the basic task remains driving a racing car quickly, while acknowledging that Formula 1 places greater demands on a driver than F2 or F3.

“Yes. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be ready. In the end, you are still driving fast cars around a circuit; the difference is that these are F1 cars. I’ve been doing that for a long time. I know Formula 1 is a very different environment and that much more happens there than in F2 or F3. But I think the main adjustment concerns what happens outside the car,” Câmara said.

“Inside the car, you do your job and always try to get as much out of it as possible. That is what I enjoy most. Driving will always be a pleasure. If I am in F1 in 2027, it will also be a dream fulfilled, because you work your whole life for that opportunity,” he continued.

His answer reflects why the Ferrari and Haas programmes matter. The tests have allowed Câmara to work with F1 machinery and teams before any decision about a race seat. They do not, by themselves, amount to a contract for 2027.

“Of course, it is always good to take part in F1 tests, but you do not want only a taste of it without getting the chance to be there full-time afterwards. It would be fantastic, and I think I am ready,” Câmara said.

Haas has not announced its 2027 choice

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed in Baku that the team was assessing several drivers for next season. Câmara, Fornaroli, Hirakawa and reserve driver Jack Doohan are among the names it has tested. Komatsu also said keeping Esteban Ocon remained an option, despite the Frenchman describing himself as a free agent.

A report by Dutch publication Formule1.nl has claimed that Câmara has agreed a deal to join Haas. The team has not formally announced a 2027 line-up, so the reported agreement should not be presented as a confirmed seat.

Câmara’s F2 results have strengthened his case during that wait. After inheriting victory in Baku’s second feature race following a penalty for Alexander Dunne, he moved to 207 points, seven ahead of Nikola Tsolov. The F2 title remains undecided, with the championship’s closing rounds still to come.

The combination gives Haas two forms of evidence to assess: Câmara’s performances in F2 and his work in its test car. For now, the Brazilian has stated his readiness; the decision on whether he will make his F1 debut in 2027 belongs to the team.

Formula 1 returns from 2 to 4 October at Sepang for the Bahrain GP in Malaysia. GRANDE PRÊMIO will continue to follow Haas’s driver decision and Câmara’s F2 title campaign.

F1 today: FAQ

Who was fastest in Bahrain GP practice at Sepang?

Max Verstappen topped FP1 with a 1:37.520, beating George Russell by 0.383 seconds. Isack Hadjar finished third, ahead of Charles Leclerc and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

What time does F1 FP2 start in Malaysia?

FP2 starts on Friday, 2 October, at 16:00 in Malaysia. That is 09:00 BST in the UK, 04:00 EDT in New York and Toronto, 01:00 PDT in Los Angeles and Vancouver, 13:30 IST in India and 18:00 AEST in Sydney and Melbourne.

Why is the Bahrain Grand Prix being held in Malaysia?

The original race at Sakhir was cancelled because of the conflict in the Middle East. Sepang is hosting the replacement event while retaining the Bahrain Grand Prix name, bringing Formula 1 back to the Malaysian circuit for the first time since 2017.