Rafael Camara Emerges in Cadillac, Haas F1 Fight

Cadillac and Haas are both tracking Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for a possible 2027 Formula 1 seat, with the 21-year-old’s surge in Formula 2 pushing him into the middle of two important driver decisions.

Camara’s case has been built quickly. Since the Monaco weekend, he has taken two Formula 2 wins and four pole positions, and he arrived at the Hungary weekend third in the standings in his rookie season. That form has come after he won last year’s Formula 3 title and recently completed his first Ferrari-organized Testing of Previous Cars outing in an F1 car.

The growing attention matters even more because Cadillac had appeared publicly committed to Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas for 2027. But while that long-term plan has been emphasized more than once, Camara’s performances have made him a realistic name to watch, especially as Cadillac’s supported driver Colton Herta faces a much less convincing path.

Herta was only 16th in the Formula 2 standings before Hungary and still needed six superlicence points to qualify for Formula 1. Reports said the mandatory rookie FP1 sessions available through Perez and Bottas would offer a maximum of four points this year, leaving Cadillac with both a regulatory problem and fresh questions about whether Herta is ready. His rookie F2 campaign has produced a best result of fifth, and it has done little to strengthen that case.

Haas is evaluating the same market from a different angle. Oliver Bearman is expected to stay on, but the seat alongside him is under scrutiny as Esteban Ocon’s position looks less secure. In that context, Camara and reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli are due to test together at Portimao at the end of August in a session that could serve as a direct shootout for a 2027 race seat.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said ahead of last week’s Belgian Grand Prix that links to Ferrari or any other outside influence will not decide the outcome. “All we want is drivers who can produce maximum results for us,” Komatsu said. “Our pure consideration is that: who’s the best driver for the team?”

That stance strengthens Camara’s position rather than weakening it, because his candidacy is being driven by results. What began as another strong junior season has turned into a genuine opening beyond Ferrari’s own ladder, with Haas preparing to test him against a direct rival and Cadillac now monitoring him as its original Herta-based path looks increasingly uncertain.