Rafael Camara to Make F1 Debut at Brazil GP as Esteban Ocon Exits Haas
Rafael Camara is set to debut in Formula 1 this weekend with Haas during the Brazil Grand Prix, replacing Esteban Ocon, who will no longer race for the team this season. The decision came after tensions rose between Ocon and Haas, culminating in a heated dispute at the Mexican GP.
Ocon's Exit from Haas Confirmed
Following the altercation in Mexico City, team principal Ayao Komatsu announced that Ocon would be removed from the race seat for the remainder of 2026. Reserve driver and Toyota protege Ryo Hirakawa stepped in from Saturday onwards in Mexico, managing to score a point with a 10th place finish on his debut.
"We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with TGR Haas F1 Team this season," said Komatsu. "Such decisions are never made lightly, but we feel this is firmly in the best interest of the team moving forward."
The details of discussions between Ocon and the team remain private.
Camara Accelerates Into F1 Early
Originally signed to replace Ocon for 2027, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara will take over the wheel of the Haas VF-26 at Interlagos. Camara currently leads the Formula 2 championship and impressed Haas during private testing sessions.
His promotion was finalized Tuesday afternoon, after he had been on standby since Ocon's sudden exit in Mexico. Hirakawa filled the temporary role at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez while Haas evaluated options for the rest of the season.
It remains uncertain who will drive for Haas in the upcoming races at Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi; a mix of Camara and Hirakawa appearances is expected.
Camara's Preparation for F1 Debut
Though Camara has not yet driven a 2026-spec F1 car, he has gained experience through several Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions this year. He completed four runs in Ferrari’s SF-25 and one session in the Haas VF-25.
The August test in Portimao, Portugal, where he piloted the VF-25, played a major role in convincing Haas of his talent.
"Looking ahead, we've chosen Rafael Camara to drive alongside Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix," Komatsu stated. "Having excelled in his TPC outing in August, we know Rafael’s capabilities and look forward to working with him through his F1 debut driving the VF-26 in Brazil."
Impact on Ferrari and Haas Lineup
Because Camara will race for Haas, Friday morning’s FP1 session originally assigned to him will now be given to Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic. This change gives Beganovic another chance to get valuable seat time with the Maranello team.
