Ferrari could face a delicate decision over how it supports its young drivers in Formula 1 after Haas confirmed that Rafael Camara will partner Oliver Bearman for the 2027 season. Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes the arrival of a second Ferrari-backed talent could raise important questions about engine upgrades, equal treatment and the extent of Maranello’s influence over the American team.
The announcement creates an unusual situation for Ferrari, which will have two drivers from its development programme competing alongside each other at Haas. Montoya has highlighted an apparent difference in the engine specifications used by Bearman and Esteban Ocon during the current campaign, suggesting that the arrangement could become considerably more complicated once Camara joins the grid.
Ferrari faces new questions over Haas engine upgrades in 2027
Speaking on a recent episode of the MontoyAS podcast, Juan Pablo Montoya raised the possibility that Ferrari’s relationship with Oliver Bearman had already influenced the equipment available to the British driver.
Montoya acknowledged that he was uncertain about the precise circumstances surrounding the most recent race. However, he explained that information he had heard through his television work suggested Esteban Ocon had continued using an older engine specification while Bearman had received a newer version.
According to the Colombian, the performance difference between those two specifications was substantial. He suggested that Bearman’s Ferrari connections, or another factor related to the Italian manufacturer, may have played a part in the difference between the two Haas cars.
That situation prompted Montoya to question how Ferrari would approach the same issue in 2027, when both Haas drivers would have direct links to Maranello. He expressed particular interest in whether Ferrari would become more involved in decisions affecting the drivers or whether Haas would retain control over the allocation of equipment.
The distinction could become especially important if new power-unit developments are introduced during the season. With Ferrari’s engine performance currently representing a significant development concern, access to an improved specification could make a meaningful difference to a driver’s competitiveness.
Readers can explore the broader challenges facing Maranello through our Ferrari technical analysis and development coverage, which examines the performance characteristics and upgrades of the Italian team’s Formula 1 machinery.
Rafael Camara earns Haas promotion after impressive Portimao test
Rafael Camara’s promotion was confirmed before the outcome of the 2026 Formula 2 championship had been decided. Haas nevertheless moved ahead with its plans for the following season, selecting the Brazilian as a full-time Formula 1 driver alongside Oliver Bearman.
A decisive factor in the team’s assessment was Camara’s performance during a Testing of Previous Cars session at Portimao in Portugal. The Ferrari-backed youngster impressed Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu and other senior figures by recording a faster lap time than fellow participants Ryo Hirakawa and Leonardo Fornaroli.
Reports also suggested that Camara came close to matching, or even surpassing, the benchmark established by Bearman during the test. His performance provided Haas with further encouragement to commit to the Brazilian despite the Formula 2 title battle remaining unresolved.
The promotion means Haas will enter the 2027 championship with two drivers connected to Ferrari, adding another dimension to the existing relationship between the American constructor and the Maranello manufacturer.
Could Haas become a Ferrari junior team?
The prospect of an entirely Ferrari-backed driver line-up has also prompted discussion within the Formula 1 paddock about Haas’s long-term independence.
Some figures have expressed concern that the American outfit could develop into a junior team for Ferrari, operating in a manner comparable to the relationship between Racing Bulls and Red Bull.
Team owner Gene Haas has firmly rejected the suggestion that his organisation will take on such a role. Nevertheless, the arrival of Camara alongside Bearman means the practical boundaries between Haas’s own sporting decisions and Ferrari’s interests are likely to attract greater attention.
Montoya’s observations focus on precisely that distinction. His concern is not simply that two Ferrari-affiliated drivers will share a garage, but how decisions involving potentially unequal technical equipment will be handled when both have connections to the same manufacturer.
Oliver Bearman’s experience could influence Ferrari’s approach
Oliver Bearman would enter the 2027 season as the more experienced Formula 1 driver of the two. That seniority could make him the natural candidate for preferential treatment if a limited number of upgraded components became available.
However, any such arrangement could depend on the contractual terms governing the drivers’ relationships with Ferrari and Haas. Clauses within their respective agreements may influence how technical developments are allocated, although the precise provisions have not been established.
For Rafael Camara, joining Haas represents an opportunity to establish himself at the highest level while remaining connected to Ferrari’s driver development structure. For Bearman, the arrival of another young talent backed by the same manufacturer introduces a different competitive dynamic.
The question is particularly relevant because engine performance has been one of Ferrari’s main development challenges. If the manufacturer produces significant improvements during 2027, the timing and distribution of those upgrades could influence the balance of performance between the two Haas drivers.
Ultimately, Montoya believes the most interesting aspect of the new partnership will be discovering how much influence Ferrari exercises and how independently Haas manages its drivers. With Bearman and Camara set to share a garage, the allocation of future engine specifications could become an important test of that relationship.
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