Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has dismissed any concern about potentially fielding two Ferrari-affiliated drivers in Formula 1 next season, insisting that outright performance will be the decisive factor in the team’s 2027 line-up.
Oliver Bearman is widely expected to remain with Haas after several years within the Ferrari Driver Academy, while the identity of his future team-mate has yet to be confirmed. Esteban Ocon’s position has come under increasing scrutiny, with Rafael Camara understood to be the leading candidate for the second seat.
Haas has no issue with two Ferrari-linked drivers
Rafael Camara is currently fighting at the front of the Formula 2 championship and, like Bearman, is part of Ferrari’s junior structure. If Haas were to select him, the team would effectively enter 2027 with two drivers closely connected to Ferrari rather than one driver developed entirely within its own system.
Komatsu does not see that as a problem. He explained that the origin of a driver’s development programme is irrelevant to Haas as long as the team secures the fastest pairing available.
The Haas boss indicated that he would be equally comfortable with two Ferrari juniors, two Toyota-affiliated drivers or two drivers backed by McLaren. He also referenced Leonardo Fornaroli, who is part of McLaren’s development structure, as an example of why manufacturer affiliation is not central to the decision.
For Komatsu, the priority is straightforward: Haas needs the strongest possible drivers if it wants to accelerate the team’s progress.
Bearman’s route from Ferrari’s junior programme into a full-time Haas seat has already demonstrated the value of that relationship, with the young Briton having previously discussed his Ferrari debut and transition to Haas.
Rafael Camara linked with Esteban Ocon’s seat for 2027
Haas has not yet formally announced its 2027 driver pairing. Bearman is expected to continue, but speculation over the second seat has intensified as Ocon’s future becomes less certain.
RacingNews365 understands that Camara is currently the favourite for that position. Such a move would give Haas a line-up composed entirely of Ferrari juniors, but Komatsu’s comments make clear that the team does not regard that structure as a disadvantage.
Instead, Haas is evaluating its options according to speed and the ability to extract the maximum from the car. The team’s difficult 2026 campaign has made that process especially important.
Ayao Komatsu says Haas must choose form over money
Haas has failed to score a point in its last eight Grands Prix, increasing the pressure to improve every part of the operation. Komatsu believes the driver line-up must contribute directly to that process rather than being shaped primarily by commercial considerations.
He emphasised that the roughly 400 people working for Haas need to know the team has chosen the best drivers realistically available. In Komatsu’s view, selecting somebody who is around half a second slower simply because they bring additional money would damage motivation inside the organisation.
The financial argument works both ways. Komatsu also pointed out that gaining a single position in the Constructors’ Championship can itself be worth a considerable amount of money, meaning a faster driver can generate sporting and financial value through results.
That is why the Haas team principal has consistently maintained that driver selection should be based on performance. He indicated that the same principle is guiding the team’s current 2027 decision.
Haas wants the strongest pairing it can secure
The possibility of two Ferrari-developed drivers therefore does not appear to be a barrier for Haas. If Bearman and Camara are judged to be the strongest available combination, Komatsu is prepared to accept the close connection both would have with Maranello.
That approach reflects Haas’s immediate priorities. After a run of eight races without points, the team needs drivers capable of maximising the car rather than a line-up constructed around ownership of driver development or commercial backing.
The decision could have significant consequences for Ocon, whose seat remains uncertain, while Camara’s strong Formula 2 campaign has placed him firmly in contention for an opportunity to step into Formula 1.
With Bearman expected to remain and Haas still assessing the second seat, the final choice will offer an important indication of how strongly the team values emerging Ferrari talent as it plans for 2027.
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