Rafael Camara has revealed that he suffers from short-sightedness and astigmatism, sharing an unusual experience from his junior racing career when he was forced to compete wearing glasses after forgetting his contact lenses. The Brazilian, who will make his Formula 1 debut with Haas in 2027, explained how his eyesight affects his perception of light and recalled narrowly missing pole position during a Formula Regional weekend in Baku.
The 21-year-old is currently leading the Formula 2 championship with Invicta Racing as he awaits the outcome of the season. His place on next year’s Formula 1 grid has already been confirmed, marking another major achievement for the Ferrari Driver Academy graduate. His progression through the junior categories culminated in the announcement that Rafael Camara will race for Haas in 2027.
Rafael Camara reveals short-sightedness and astigmatism
During a recent interview reflecting on different moments of his racing career, Rafael Camara spoke openly about his eyesight and the difficulties associated with short-sightedness and astigmatism.
“I have a prescription of minus 2.75 in one eye and minus 2.50 in the other. Lights seem much brighter to me,” the Brazilian explained.
The revelation provided an interesting insight into a challenge that the young driver has learned to manage while progressing through the single-seater categories. However, it also led him to recount an unusual qualifying experience from his time in Formula Regional.
Forgotten contact lenses led to an unusual Baku qualifying experience
During a race weekend in Baku, Rafael Camara realised that he had forgotten his contact lenses. With his usual corrective lenses unavailable, he had to drive the car while wearing glasses.
Despite the unfamiliar circumstances, the Brazilian came remarkably close to securing pole position.
“I missed pole position by less than five hundredths of a second. I had the feeling that the walls were incredibly close to me,” he admitted.
The experience remains a curious moment in the young driver’s career, particularly given the demanding nature of the Baku street circuit, where barriers line much of the track and precision is essential. The incident is another detail in the career of a driver who has progressed through Formula Regional, Formula 3 and Formula 2 on his way to Formula 1. His achievements and development can be explored in the Rafael Camara career profile.
Rafael Camara is not the first driver to race with glasses
Wearing glasses inside or outside the cockpit is not a problem for Rafael Camara, and he is far from the only single-seater driver to have done so.
Formula 1 has previously featured drivers who regularly competed while wearing glasses. One example is Sébastien Bourdais, who wore them during Grand Prix weekends in 2009 when he was racing alongside Sebastian Vettel at Toro Rosso.
For Rafael Camara, the Baku qualifying experience represents an unusual memory from his journey towards Formula 1. Having already secured his promotion from the Ferrari Driver Academy to the 2027 Formula 1 grid, the Brazilian is preparing for the next chapter of his racing career with Haas.
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