Haas have signed another Ferrari junior to replace the ousted Esteban Ocon, promoting Formula 2 title contender Rafael Camara to a race seat for next year. The Brazilian will make his Formula 1 debut alongside fellow 21-year-old Oliver Bearman, who has impressed since joining the American team.
Camara's junior career and F2 title push
Camara currently leads the Formula 2 championship with two rounds remaining, holding a seven-point advantage over Red Bull prospect Nikola Tsolov. He is also a Formula 3 and Formula European champion, having won both titles at the first attempt.
Regardless of whether he wins the F2 title, his promotion is now confirmed after Haas put all their options through an extensive testing programme.
Team boss and driver reactions
"I'm really excited to sign such a young, amazing talent," said Haas boss Ayao Komatsu. "I don't need to tell everyone about his achievements in the junior formulae – it's been very impressive. In his rookie season in Formula 2, the speed he's shown in some very difficult moments goes to show the potential Rafa has."
Komatsu added: "He showed when we had him drive in our TPC program in Portugal that he could handle himself very well with not a huge amount of time to learn the car, he showed us more than just raw speed. Rafa managed to create an environment to get the best out of himself, it was very impressive and certainly the laps he completed were special. We're all excited about this opportunity and really committed to nurture this talent and provide a place where he can flourish."
Camara said: "I want to thank Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for the trust they have placed in me. I'm also very grateful to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy for their support and for everything they have contributed to my development over the years, as well as to my family for always being there throughout this journey. Now, my focus is on preparing myself in the best possible way for this new challenge. There will be a lot to learn, and I'm looking forward to working closely with the team, understanding the car and continuing to develop as a driver."
Selection process and Ocon's exit
Ocon's exit was confirmed a couple of weeks ago, though Haas had been assessing options for months. Camara was selected after the team narrowed candidates down to the Brazilian and reserve driver Jack Doohan, who raced seven times in F1 for Alpine.
Japanese pair Ryo Hirakawa and Sho Tsuboi were also given auditions through Haas' partnership with Toyota Racing. They also considered last year's F2 champion, Leonardo Fornaroli, whose parent team McLaren was especially keen to place the Italian in an F1 seat next year. But Camara had been the favourite for weeks, and Haas made it official after striking a final deal with Ferrari in Singapore last weekend. His performance driving last year's Haas F1 car at Portimao in August helped convince Komatsu and team owner Gene Haas that Camara was the best choice.
