Rafael Camara will make his Formula 1 Grand Prix debut at the São Paulo round on November 6–8, driving the Haas VF-26 alongside Ollie Bearman. The Brazilian’s race career in F1, originally due to begin at the start of 2027, will instead start early at his home event.
A report published by Formula 1 on November 3 carried a statement from Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu confirming that Esteban Ocon had been told he would not return to the team’s race seat this season. Komatsu said the team considered the decision in its future interests, while discussions with Ocon would remain private.
Ocon will not return this season; Hirakawa has other commitments
Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced Ocon in Mexico. Ocon had already announced that he would leave Haas at the end of the season. The latest confirmation changes his racing plans for the remainder of the year; the partnership announced for São Paulo is Camara and Bearman.
Hirakawa is unavailable for Brazil because of existing World Endurance Championship commitments. The temporary arrangement used in Mexico therefore cannot simply continue at the next round, prompting Haas to bring their future regular driver into a Grand Prix weekend early.
A 2027 contract and experience in an older Haas
Haas signed the 21-year-old Camara to a multi-year deal on October 15, with the full-time partnership originally scheduled to begin in 2027. A Formula Regional European Championship winner and the 2025 FIA Formula 3 champion, he currently leads Formula 2. His early debut builds on that already confirmed future line-up.
Camara worked with Haas in an August test at Portimão, Portugal, using the team’s 2025 VF-25. In the original signing announcement, Komatsu praised both his speed and his ability to establish an effective working environment with limited time to learn the car. He has now reiterated the team’s confidence in Camara as it prepares to support his debut in the VF-26.
INKA SPORTS Analysis and Summary: An immediate vacancy meets a future line-up
The decision operates on two timescales. Hirakawa’s existing schedule creates an immediate vacancy in Brazil, while Camara’s multi-year contract connects that solution to the future line-up. Their previous test provides a starting point for communication and preparation that would be absent with a completely unfamiliar driver.
Moving from a previous-car test to a full Grand Prix weekend also changes the job. Camara must work with the engineers through practice, qualifying and race preparation, meeting the VF-26’s competitive demands as a Grand Prix driver. Brazil brings two priorities together: addressing the present vacancy and beginning to build race-weekend experience with next year’s regular driver.
