Rafael Camara has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas in Formula 1 next season. The 21-year-old Brazilian is currently second in the Formula 2 standings in his rookie campaign, just seven points behind leader Nikola Tsolov with three rounds remaining.
Ocon is expected to leave Haas upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2026 season. The 30-year-old Frenchman was narrowly beaten by his rookie teammate Ollie Bearman last year, but the performance gap between the pair has noticeably widened during a difficult 2026 season. Ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ocon declared himself a "free agent" and revealed he is talking to other F1 teams about potential seats for 2027.
Ocon’s seat has been under threat for a while, and the leading contender to replace him has now emerged. Camara boasts an impressive junior record, having won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship before being crowned Formula 3 champion at the first attempt in 2025. In F2, he has taken two feature race victories and is firmly in the title fight.
Should Camara go on to take this year’s F2 crown, he would achieve something only five other drivers have previously done: winning F3 (or GP3) and F2 (or GP2) in back-to-back seasons. Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, and Gabriel Bortoleto, as well as McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli, have all claimed consecutive titles in the feeder series. This underscores Camara’s potential to follow in their footsteps.
Camara is also a member of the Ferrari young driver academy. Ferrari enjoys close ties with Haas through a technical collaboration, and the American outfit would field a line-up consisting of two Ferrari juniors if Camara partners Bearman next year. This could be a strategic move for Haas to build a youthful and competitive team.
At the end of August, Camara took part in a private test for Haas at Portimao alongside Fornaroli, Ryo Hirakawa, and Jack Doohan, other drivers Haas has been evaluating for 2027. Haas is in no rush to select its drivers for next season, but Camara is now believed to be at the head of the queue to replace Ocon, having impressed both Ferrari and Haas.
With the remaining F2 rounds crucial, Camara’s performances will be closely watched. If he can maintain consistency and clinch the title, the door to Haas will open even wider. However, competition from Tsolov and others will be the ultimate test. The final decision rests with Haas, but one thing is certain: Rafael Camara is a name to watch for the future of F1.
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