Ferrari Driver Academy prospect Rafael Câmara has revealed that he will race with number 50 when he makes his Formula 1 debut for Haas in 2027. The Brazilian, whose arrival was officially announced by the American team last Thursday, has explained the personal reasons behind his unusual choice, which also involves fellow Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
The announcement of Rafael Câmara’s promotion to Formula 1 was followed by an exclusive media briefing involving Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, the young Brazilian and several members of the British press. The 2027 signing marks another important step for a driver who has progressed through the junior categories with Ferrari’s backing.
Rafael Câmara chooses number 50 for his Haas F1 debut
Rafael Câmara has now confirmed the number he intends to use in Formula 1. Unlike in the junior championships, including Formula 3 and Formula 2, where drivers are assigned numbers according to their team’s results in the previous season, Formula 1 competitors can select their own permanent race numbers.
Under the current regulations, drivers can choose a number between 0 and 99, with two important exceptions. Number 1 is reserved for the reigning world champion, while number 17 was permanently retired by the FIA following the death of Jules Bianchi.
Rafael Câmara will use number 50 when he makes his Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix in March 2027. He will become the first driver to adopt the number as his permanent Formula 1 racing identity.
The Brazilian’s arrival at Haas follows his confirmation as a Haas Formula 1 driver for 2027 after progressing through the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Oliver Bearman previously raced with number 50 in Formula 1
Although Rafael Câmara will be the first to select number 50 as his permanent racing number, it has appeared on the Formula 1 grid before. His Haas teammate Oliver Bearman used the number during two appearances as a replacement driver for the American team in 2024.
Those outings came at the Azerbaijan and São Paulo Grands Prix, when Oliver Bearman replaced Kevin Magnussen, who was initially suspended and later sidelined by illness.
However, because Oliver Bearman was competing as a reserve driver, number 50 was assigned to him by Haas rather than chosen as his permanent number. The British driver subsequently adopted the now-familiar number 87 for his full-time Formula 1 career.
Why Rafael Câmara chose number 50 instead of number 5
Asked why he had decided to race with number 50, Rafael Câmara revealed that his original preference was already being used by another Brazilian Formula 1 driver.
“Obviously, my first choice would have been number 5, but Gabriel is using it. So I’ll use number 50 because my birthday is 05/05/2005 and, when I spoke to my father, he told me that I am 50 years old,” Rafael Câmara explained.
The reference to Gabriel Bortoleto explains why Rafael Câmara had to look beyond his preferred number. His date of birth also gives the choice a personal meaning, allowing him to retain a connection to the number five as he prepares for his first Formula 1 season.
With his Haas seat confirmed and his race number selected, Rafael Câmara is preparing for the next stage of his career, carrying the experience gained through Ferrari’s junior driver programme into his Formula 1 debut.
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