Ferrari has reportedly opened talks with Cadillac over placing Rafael Camara with the American team for the 2027 Formula 1 season, potentially putting the Scuderia on a collision course with Red Bull over one of the grid’s most important emerging talents. Red Bull is also believed to be considering Cadillac as a route into F1 for Nikola Tsolov, whose most obvious internal pathway could be complicated by Liam Lawson’s strong form at Racing Bulls.
Camara and Tsolov are already fighting near the front of the 2026 Formula 2 championship, but their rivalry could soon extend beyond the junior category. Both Ferrari and Red Bull want to create a path to Formula 1 for their respective prospects, and the same Cadillac seat may ultimately become part of both teams’ plans.
Ferrari turns to Cadillac in Rafael Camara 2027 F1 plan
According to Autosport WEB, Ferrari’s original intention was to place Camara on loan at Haas for the 2027 season. Such a move would have put the Brazilian alongside fellow Ferrari Driver Academy product Oliver Bearman, giving the Maranello team two of its young drivers inside the same customer operation.
Camara has already been linked with the American team as part of Haas’s developing 2027 driver situation. However, Ferrari’s plans may now have to change, with Haas reportedly leaning towards Leonardo Fornaroli instead. Fornaroli currently serves as a McLaren reserve driver.
That development has pushed Cadillac higher up Ferrari’s list of possibilities. Initial negotiations have reportedly taken place over a loan arrangement that would allow the 21-year-old to make his Formula 1 debut while remaining connected to the Scuderia.
Camara’s management has also confirmed that discussions with Formula 1 teams are active as it works to secure the Brazilian a place on the 2027 grid, with Cadillac among the possible destinations. His situation forms part of Ferrari’s broader long-term planning around Camara and Bearman.
Why Nikola Tsolov could also need a Cadillac route
Red Bull faces a similar question with Nikola Tsolov. The simplest path would normally be a promotion to Racing Bulls, which has traditionally provided Red Bull’s junior drivers with their opportunity to prove themselves at Formula 1 level.
Lawson’s 2026 performances could make that solution considerably more difficult. The New Zealander has emerged as Racing Bulls’ team leader and has been one of the standout drivers of the season, strengthening his case to remain with the Faenza-based team beyond the current campaign.
With an obvious Racing Bulls vacancy therefore far from guaranteed, it has been claimed that Red Bull could consider loaning Tsolov to Cadillac instead. Such an arrangement would allow the 19-year-old to graduate from Formula 2 without Red Bull immediately having to remove one of its existing drivers.
If both Ferrari and Red Bull pursue that route, Camara and Tsolov could find themselves competing not only for the Formula 2 championship but potentially for the same Formula 1 opportunity.
Camara and Tsolov separated by 22 points in Formula 2
The rivalry is already close on track. At the summer break, Tsolov leads the 2026 Formula 2 standings with 167 points. Gabriele Mini is second on 147, while Camara follows just two points further back on 145.
That leaves the Ferrari junior only 22 points behind the championship leader as the second half of the campaign approaches. A strong conclusion to the season could therefore strengthen either driver’s case as Ferrari and Red Bull evaluate how quickly to move their prospects towards Formula 1.
Camara already carries significant junior-category credentials. The Brazilian won the 2025 Formula 3 title in his rookie season before stepping up to Formula 2, placing him among the most important drivers in Ferrari’s recent young-driver development pipeline.
Ferrari-Cadillac relationship could become important
Cadillac’s existing relationship with Ferrari adds another dimension to the negotiations. The American team entered Formula 1 in 2026 using Ferrari power units, while Haas is also a customer of the Maranello manufacturer.
The current supply arrangement is set to continue through at least the 2028 Formula 1 season before General Motors intends to introduce its own works power unit. The Ferrari-Cadillac power-unit partnership therefore ensures that the two organisations already have an established technical and sporting relationship.
Given those ties, it has already been suggested that Cadillac could see value in taking Camara. Bringing a Ferrari-backed driver into the team could further strengthen its relationship with the Scuderia while providing the Brazilian with the Formula 1 experience Ferrari wants him to gain.
Cadillac may have several options for its 2027 line-up
The situation remains dependent on Cadillac’s own driver plans. Test driver Colton Herta is another potential candidate for a Formula 1 debut in 2027, meaning a choice between Camara and Tsolov is not the American team’s only possible scenario.
There have also been suggestions that Sergio Perez has held talks with Williams over potentially replacing Carlos Sainz for the 2027 season. Any movement elsewhere in the driver market could therefore create further openings or alter Cadillac’s options.
For Ferrari, the immediate objective is finding a competitive environment in which Camara can continue his development if a direct place at Haas is no longer available. For Red Bull, Lawson’s emergence has created a different problem by potentially blocking the traditional Racing Bulls route for Tsolov.
That combination could make Cadillac one of the pivotal teams in the 2027 driver market. Camara and Tsolov still have a Formula 2 title to contest first, but the battle between two of the category’s leading young drivers may eventually carry consequences far beyond the championship standings.
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