Haas names Rafael Camara for São Paulo as Ocon is out for 2026

A debut earlier than planned

Rafael Camara was always going to wear a Haas race suit in 2027. Now he will do it for the São Paulo Grand Prix, two months ahead of schedule. Haas confirmed on Tuesday that the Brazilian, a Ferrari academy driver and Formula 2 title contender, will drive the second VF-26 at Interlagos, on 6–8 November, after Esteban Ocon was told he will not return to a race seat this year.

What Haas said

Team principal Ayao Komatsu said the team had "now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat" with the team this season. Haas described its conversations with the Frenchman as an internal matter and, according to RacingNews365, stressed that Ocon was not stood down because of illness. Ocon has denied that any physical violence was involved after a heated exchange in Mexico City, according to RacingNews365.

On Camara, the statement said that, having excelled in a test outing in August, the team knew what he was capable of. RacingNews365 reports that Ferrari agreed to release him early and that Haas chose him ahead of reserve driver Jack Doohan. The Race notes that the team has so far confirmed him only for Brazil.

How we got here

Ocon's exit had been set for the end of the season: Haas announced in September that Camara would replace him for 2027. The break came in Mexico City, where a disagreement after Friday practice over the run plan led to Ocon being withdrawn. Toyota's Ryo Hirakawa took over and scored a point on his debut, finishing tenth.

Hirakawa is not available for São Paulo, according to RacingNews365, because the race clashes with the Monza Six Hours, the World Endurance Championship finale, where his Toyota crew is close to the drivers' title. Camara becomes Haas's fourth driver of the season, the maximum the rules allow, RacingNews365 adds.

By the numbers

Our race data shows how modest the season has been for the second Haas. Across 18 starts, Ocon scored 7 points, with a best finish of eighth. Oliver Bearman has 19 points from 19 races, and Hirakawa's tenth place in Mexico City added 1, so the team's three race drivers have collected 27 points together.

Camara arrives with no race starts in the series; his only Haas running so far came in the August test outing the team mentioned. The Race reports that the team has not said who will partner Bearman after Brazil, so the final rounds remain open. Next up is the São Paulo weekend, with Camara's first practice session on Friday 6 November.