Rafael Câmara’s official move to Haas for the 2027 Formula 1 season has placed the American team’s already extensive relationship with Ferrari under renewed scrutiny. The Brazilian’s arrival could leave Haas fielding two drivers closely connected to Maranello, with Oliver Bearman also expected to remain with the team if discussions over an extension are completed.
The development has contributed to a growing belief in parts of the paddock that Haas could increasingly resemble a de facto Ferrari sister team. That interpretation goes beyond the driver line-up: Haas already uses Ferrari power units, gearboxes and several other technical components, while also operating a design facility in Maranello.
Rafael Câmara joins Haas on multi-year F1 deal
Haas confirmed Rafael Câmara on Thursday after months of speculation over who would replace Esteban Ocon from 2027. The 21-year-old has agreed a multi-year contract, completing his progression from the Ferrari Driver Academy and Formula 2 into a full-time Formula 1 race seat.
The promotion represents another significant result for Ferrari’s junior programme, with the Brazilian following a pathway already established through Oliver Bearman. More details on his progression can be found in the confirmation of Rafael Câmara’s 2027 Haas promotion.
Câmara could arrive in Formula 1 as the reigning Formula 2 champion. He currently leads Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov by seven points with two rounds remaining, having taken three victories during the 2026 season in the Barcelona, Spa and Monza Feature Races.
His selection followed a wider Haas evaluation process involving several candidates. Jack Doohan, Toyota-backed Ryo Hirakawa and McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli were all considered for Esteban Ocon’s seat. Haas had even reached an agreement in principle with McLaren to take Fornaroli on loan before ultimately choosing Câmara, the 2025 Formula 3 champion.
Ayao Komatsu points to Rafael Câmara’s pace
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has stressed that the Brazilian’s performance was the decisive factor behind the decision. In particular, he indicated that the team would not have committed to Câmara without his Testing of Previous Cars outing at Portimão in August, where Haas was able to assess him directly in Formula 1 machinery.
That test formed an important part of the selection process, with Haas evaluating Rafael Câmara alongside other future driver candidates at Portimão. Komatsu has maintained that outright pace drove the eventual choice.
Other factors had nevertheless been discussed around the paddock in the weeks before the announcement, including Ferrari’s support for Câmara and the commercial backing associated with the Brazilian. Those considerations were presented as possible influences before Haas made its final decision, although Komatsu’s public explanation has centred on the driver’s performance.
Could Haas field two Ferrari-backed drivers in 2027?
If Haas completes its expected agreement to keep Oliver Bearman, the team would enter 2027 with two drivers whose careers have been strongly supported by Ferrari. The British driver is already at Haas through the Maranello connection, while discussions are ongoing over extending that arrangement into a third season.
The possibility has been developing for some time. Haas had previously been weighing whether adding another Ferrari junior would move the relationship closer to a traditional junior-team model, an issue explored when Gene Haas considered the implications of another Ferrari-linked driver.
The relationship is also substantial on the technical side. Haas purchases its power unit, gearbox and various permitted components from Ferrari and maintains a design operation within Maranello. Despite those shared elements, the team develops its own car and has continued to pursue distinct aerodynamic solutions, as demonstrated by the differences between the Haas VF-26 and Ferrari despite their shared components.
Those connections are now feeding a growing paddock discussion over whether Haas is moving closer to functioning as Ferrari’s de facto sister operation, particularly if Câmara and Bearman form the 2027 race line-up.
Why the debate could interest Zak Brown
The discussion is especially relevant in light of Zak Brown’s long-running opposition to structures in which one Formula 1 organisation has influence over more than one team. The McLaren CEO has repeatedly focused on the relationship between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, despite Racing Bulls officially operating independently from its base in Faenza.
Racing Bulls has strengthened its links with Red Bull in recent seasons, including through a facility connected to Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters and the use of various technical components supplied by its sister organisation.
In May, Brown wrote to the FIA calling for multi-team ownership to be prohibited. His intervention also came amid concern over the possibility of Mercedes purchasing a 24 per cent stake in Alpine, although that potential transaction ultimately did not proceed because of the price sought by Otro Capital.
The McLaren chief also pointed to events on track when making his case. One example involved Liam Lawson being instructed to concede track position to Max Verstappen at the Miami Grand Prix after the Red Bull driver had forced him off the circuit. Brown had previously questioned the relationship after Daniel Ricciardo made a late pit stop at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix to set the fastest lap, taking away a point that Lando Norris had been in position to secure.
There is no suggestion that Ferrari owns Haas in the manner Red Bull owns Racing Bulls. However, Câmara’s arrival, the potential continuation of Bearman and the extensive technical relationship between the two teams mean the Haas–Ferrari partnership is likely to remain part of the wider debate over independence and cooperation between Formula 1 competitors.
For Ferrari, the arrangement also provides a clear route for developing young drivers at the highest level. Câmara’s promotion places another Maranello-supported talent on the grid, while Bearman’s own future remains closely connected to both Haas and Ferrari. The wider implications of that pathway have already become clearer as Ferrari’s future driver options begin to take shape around Rafael Câmara’s F1 arrival.
Leave a Reply