Rafael Câmara will make his Formula 1 debut at next weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix, bringing forward his first appearance in the series after being confirmed as a Haas driver for the 2027 season. The 21-year-old from Pernambuco is also set to race at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22.
Câmara takes the seat previously held by Esteban Ocon. The French driver did not compete at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, November 1, after a dispute with team members; Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced him there.
Hirakawa cannot fill the seat in São Paulo because he is due to compete for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship at Monza, Italy, next weekend. Câmara’s availability for the final two F1 rounds is also uncertain: those races overlap with the end of the Formula 2 season, where he leads the championship.
The F1 races scheduled for Qatar and Abu Dhabi may also be affected, as sporting events in the Middle East have been canceled amid conflicts in the region.
Câmara’s appearance at Interlagos means Brazil will have two drivers on the grid, alongside Gabriel Bortoleto, 22, of Audi. The last time two Brazilians competed in the same F1 Grand Prix was Abu Dhabi in 2016, with Felipe Massa driving for Williams and Felipe Nasr for Sauber.
Sources: Folha Esporte.