Haas hand Rafael Câmara the keys for 2027 as Ocon heads for the exit

Five pole positions in one Formula 3 season. Nobody has bettered the number. Rafael Câmara holds the record, and on Thursday the 21-year-old Brazilian collected a far bigger prize: a Formula 1 race seat.

Haas confirmed Câmara will step up to F1 with the team in 2027 on a multi-year deal. He becomes the first rookie confirmed on next year's grid, and he arrives as the current Formula 2 championship leader. Haas have yet to name his teammate. Oliver Bearman is widely expected to be confirmed for a third season, which would give Haas two Ferrari academy drivers in one garage.

Câmara sounded grounded rather than giddy. He thanked Gene Haas, Ayao Komatsu and the Ferrari academy, then turned straight to the work ahead. "There will be a lot to learn," he admitted.

Komatsu, for his part, pointed to Câmara's qualifying laps in Monaco and Montreal as evidence of his potential. The Haas boss also said Câmara handled the car well at the Portugal test despite limited time to learn the machine, and praised him for building an environment to get the best out of himself.

A junior record with no weak spots

Câmara's CV reads like a shopping list ticked off in order:

• 2022: joined the Ferrari Driver Academy
• 2024: won the Formula Regional European Championship
• 2025: took the F3 title, equalling Arvid Lindblad for the best win percentage in F3 history
• 2026: leads F2 by seven points over Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov as a rookie, thanks to three Feature Race wins and four further podiums

Then the pole numbers. His five F2 poles this year leave him behind only Charles Leclerc, who managed eight in a single season. He has never finished lower than fifth in any series he has entered, and he could become the first driver since Oscar Piastri to win three straight junior titles right before an F1 promotion. Two F2 rounds remain. No pressure, Rafa.

Komatsu had been clear about his shopping list too. "You cannot teach them speed," he said in Baku, after news of Ocon's departure broke. He also wanted a team player, which he described as especially important for a small team like Haas.

Barcelona answered both points. A week after an error while leading in Monaco cost him a first F2 win, Câmara pulled off an overcut built on tyre conservation and consistent pace to beat his rivals comfortably. His Invicta boss James Robinson described the drive as perfection and dismissed social media chatter about friction between Câmara and his engineer.

The best detail, I think, comes from Ferrari. Jerome D'Ambrosio, who oversees the academy, recalled Câmara rejecting the academy's suggestions over the winter and spelling out exactly what he needed to perform. Most teenagers would nod politely. Câmara pushed back. D'Ambrosio read the stubbornness as maturity, and the results since have backed him.

Four drivers, one seat and a rumour about Bearman's lap time

Câmara did not walk into the seat unopposed. Haas assessed four drivers in older F1 cars. Câmara, reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and reserve Ryo Hirakawa all ran at Portimão in August, while fellow reserve Jack Doohan was tested separately. Fornaroli carries strong backing from McLaren, and Doohan already has grand prix starts on his record.

According to PlanetF1, the final call came down to Doohan versus Câmara. RacingNews365 reported the decision was finalised over the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, and earlier reports had already named the Brazilian as the pick.

Now the spicy bit. Paddock reports claimed Câmara beat the benchmark Bearman set in the VF-25 during the test, though Haas published no official timing. I'd want a timing sheet before buying the claim outright. Still, the rumour tells you how loudly the test landed inside the garage.

Gene Haas pointed to Bearman's journey through the same Ferrari academy as proof young drivers arrive well prepared and make an immediate impact. Fair point. Bearman made the jump look routine. Câmara now has to do the same, without a single FP1 session on his record. His F1 mileage so far comes entirely from TPC outings. F1.com has a deeper look at why Haas took the risk.

Where does Ocon go next?

Ocon confirmed his exit on 30 September, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, ending two seasons alongside Bearman. His Haas stint so far brings 12 points finishes from 39 Grands Prix, with fifth in China last year as the high point. He said he leaves with his head held high, citing circumstances outside his control.

"This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career," he insisted.

Options look thin, though. GPToday noted links to Aston Martin and Toyota's World Endurance Championship programme, with no destination established. Ocon has also signalled he would consider a reserve role. Tough to watch for a grand prix winner.

Haas, meanwhile, head into 2027 without an established grand prix winner in either car. Komatsu acknowledged any choice for the seat would draw criticism about the team's partnerships, and two Ferrari juniors in a Ferrari-powered car will raise eyebrows in a team now carrying Toyota's TGR name. Haas will not lose sleep over the optics if Câmara delivers.