A reported change in Haas’s 2027 driver planning could give Ferrari Driver Academy prospect Rafael Câmara a route into Formula 1 without immediately placing him in a full-time race seat. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, Rafael Câmara is expected to be considered for a reserve position, while McLaren junior Leonardo Fornaroli has emerged as a leading candidate should Esteban Ocon’s seat become available.
The distinction could be significant for both Ferrari and Haas. Oliver Bearman remains closely connected to Ferrari’s long-term plans, meaning Haas must prepare for the possibility that the British driver could eventually be promoted to Maranello. At the same time, uncertainty surrounding Esteban Ocon’s future has created an opening for the American team to assess other options ahead of the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Rafael Câmara linked with Haas reserve role for 2027
Rafael Câmara is competing in Formula 2 with Invicta Racing after winning the 2025 Formula 3 championship. The Brazilian, whose promotion to Formula 2 was confirmed by Ferrari, remains part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and is therefore a logical candidate for opportunities involving Haas.
Haas continues to operate with strong technical links to Ferrari, making the team a potential destination for young drivers connected to Maranello. Oliver Bearman followed that route into Formula 1, and Rafael Câmara could be given a similar opportunity to begin learning the team’s procedures without being placed directly into a race seat.
According to the UOL report, Haas could appoint Rafael Câmara as a reserve driver for 2027. Such a role would allow the Brazilian to gain experience inside a Formula 1 team while providing Haas with another option if Oliver Bearman eventually receives an opportunity with Ferrari.
Rafael Câmara strengthened his case with victory in the Formula 2 Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps. The result kept him involved in the championship contest and provided further evidence of the speed required to be considered for a future Formula 1 opportunity.
Leonardo Fornaroli emerges as possible Esteban Ocon replacement
While Rafael Câmara is being associated with the reserve position, Leonardo Fornaroli appears to be under consideration for a more immediate step. The Italian is part of McLaren’s driver development programme and serves as one of the team’s Formula 1 reserve drivers.
Leonardo Fornaroli won the Formula 3 title in 2024 before securing the Formula 2 championship in 2025, completing consecutive title-winning campaigns. However, the presence of established drivers at McLaren makes a direct promotion into one of the team’s race seats difficult.
A temporary move or loan to Haas could therefore provide Leonardo Fornaroli with a realistic route onto the Formula 1 grid. The Italian has already participated in a Testing of Previous Cars programme with Haas and reportedly made a positive impression during that running.
Under the scenario described in the report, Leonardo Fornaroli would become a prominent candidate to replace Esteban Ocon if Haas decides not to continue with the French driver for 2027. No final decision has been announced, but Esteban Ocon’s position is central to how the team’s options develop.
Oliver Bearman’s Ferrari future remains central to Haas planning
Oliver Bearman is expected to remain an important part of Haas’s immediate plans while continuing to wait for a possible promotion to Ferrari. His performances have already generated debate over whether the Scuderia should eventually place him alongside Charles Leclerc or retain its current line-up.
The prospect of Oliver Bearman joining Ferrari in 2027 has consequently become relevant to Haas’s succession planning. Team principal Ayao Komatsu has also previously encouraged Ferrari to recognise the British driver’s progress, adding to the discussion surrounding Oliver Bearman’s route towards Maranello.
If Oliver Bearman stays with Haas, the most immediate vacancy would depend on Esteban Ocon’s future. If Ferrari promotes Oliver Bearman, however, Haas could potentially have to evaluate changes on both sides of its garage.
Ryō Hirakawa returns to the Haas VF-26 in Hungary
Ryō Hirakawa remains part of Haas’s reserve roster and will return to the VF-26 during the first free practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Japanese driver is scheduled to replace Oliver Bearman in FP1 before the British driver returns for the remainder of the weekend.
The appearance will be Ryō Hirakawa’s second FP1 outing of the 2026 season after he drove the Haas in Austria. His Budapest running will give the team another opportunity to collect feedback from a driver who already has experience of its Formula 1 machinery. The complete weekend schedule is available in the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix timetable.
Ayao Komatsu insists performance will determine Haas choices
Speaking during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Ayao Komatsu indicated that Haas would have no objection to fielding two drivers connected to different Formula 1 organisations. Oliver Bearman is affiliated with Ferrari, while Leonardo Fornaroli belongs to McLaren’s development structure, but Ayao Komatsu maintained that those relationships would not prevent Haas from selecting the strongest available line-up.
The Haas team principal emphasised that performance behind the wheel would remain the decisive consideration. Ayao Komatsu also addressed the possibility that Toyota’s expanding involvement with the team could lead to pressure for a Japanese driver to be selected.
Ayao Komatsu explained that choosing a driver primarily because of nationality would undermine both the selection process and the driver receiving the opportunity. He argued that a perception that someone had been appointed only because of sponsorship, Toyota connections or nationality would be damaging to Haas, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda and the driver involved.
Performance would therefore remain the foundation of any decision. Ayao Komatsu acknowledged that budget, nationality and the promotional value a driver could generate in a particular market might become relevant if two candidates were judged to be equally competitive. However, he ruled out selecting a slower driver simply because that person came from Japan, Italy or any other country.
Haas’s 2027 line-up consequently remains unresolved. The reported plan would place Rafael Câmara on a development path through a reserve role, while Leonardo Fornaroli could receive the more immediate opportunity if Esteban Ocon departs. For Ferrari, the situation also offers another indication of how Haas may continue to play an important role in preparing the next generation of Maranello-backed drivers for Formula 1.
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