Rafa Camara to make F1 debut at Brazil GP for Haas

Rafa Camara will make his Formula 1 debut with Haas at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend as Esteban Ocon sits out the rest of 2026. com reported that Camara will drive the VF-26 at Interlagos.

The Haas F1 team has decided Esteban Ocon will not race again for the squad, with 2027 debutant Rafa Camara getting an early debut this weekend on home soil.

Following increasingly strained relations between Ocon and the team, a heated argument in Mexico proved the final straw that made team principal Ayao Komatsu decide to bench the Frenchman. The team has now confirmed Ocon, who is a free agent next year, will not return.

Team statement

We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with TGR Haas F1 Team this season," Komatsu explained.

"Such decisions are never made lightly, as was the case in Mexico City - but then, as now, we feel this is firmly in the best interest of the team moving forward. "

Camara's background

Ferrari junior Camara, who had already been signed by Haas to replace Ocon for 2027, will take the wheel of the VF-26 at Interlagos.

The Brazilian, who made a stellar impression on Haas in private testing, will have the opportunity to begin his F1 career several months ahead of schedule.

The final green light came on Tuesday afternoon, although Camara had already been placed on standby during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend following Ocon's sudden removal from the Haas line-up.

Testing record

Rafa Camara has undertaken extensive testing with Ferrari and Haas in previous generation machinery. Camara has never driven a 2026 F1 car, but will not arrive at his high-pressure home debut unprepared. Alongside.

During the season, he has completed five Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outings, four at the wheel of Ferrari's SF-25 and one driving the Haas VF-25.

The latter took place in August at Portimao in Portugal and played a crucial role in convincing the US-owned team of his natural ability.

Komatsu confirmation

Looking ahead, we've chosen Rafael Camara to drive alongside Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix," Komatsu confirmed. "Having excelled in his TPC outing in August, we know Rafa's capabilities and we're looking forward to welcoming him into the team this weekend and working with him through his Formula 1 debut driving the VF-26 in Brazil."

Remaining races

It is not yet confirmed whether Camara or Hirakawa will race for the team in the remaining rounds at Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with it likely being a combination of both drivers. The change of plans will also have consequences for Ferrari.

Friday morning's FP1 session, originally allocated to Camara, will instead be handed to Dino Beganovic, giving the Swedish driver another opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Maranello team's car.

Race context

The Brazilian Grand Prix, currently held under the name Sao Paulo Grand Prix, is a Formula One championship race which is currently held at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Interlagos neighborhood, Cidade Dutra, Sao Paulo. The inaugural Brazilian Grand Prix, held in 1972, was held as a non-championship event, with all races from the 1973 Brazilian Grand Prix onwards held as a championship event.

Camara's Testing of Previous Cars outings

Related on Apex Sports News

• Esteban Ocon: Haas replace French driver with Ryo Hirakawa for remainder of Mexico City GP weekend

Sources

• Autosport

• Motorsport.com

• Photo: cozmicphotos, Pixabay Content License (Pixabay)