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Now, that is how you accelerate a career timeline. Rafael Camara finds himself thrust into an unexpected Formula 1 debut with Haas at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after Esteban Ocon departed the team for the remainder of the season. It is a massive jump for the 21-year-old youngster, whose arrival in the top flight was originally penciled in for 2027.
Originally, the plan was just a simple FP1 outing in a Ferrari at Interlagos, marking his first run in a 2026 car following one TPC session for Haas and four with the works team. Instead, fate intervened at his home race. To make sense of the chaos, Camara is leaning heavily on a familiar face within the garage: fellow Ferrari Driver Academy colleague Ollie Bearman.
Once I joined F3, where you get more exposure, there was really big support from the Brazilian fans,
“I think it would be very good to have Ollie,” Camara said. “He's always been doing a good job. So, [he] will be someone that it will be good to learn [from] and to see what he's doing, so I can also extract for myself and try to put in place.”
The pair share history through the Ferrari setup, though their paths rarely crossed directly on track. As Camara points out, Bearman was moving toward F3 just as Camara was starting out in F4. Their interactions were largely confined to training camps alongside the other Ferrari drivers, meaning a fresh working partnership starts right in the deep end of a Grand Prix weekend.
Beyond the garage, the Brazilian crowd awaits. Camara notes that the local backing has steadily grown as he climbed through the junior categories, and sharing the home stage with compatriot Gabriel Bortoleto makes the weekend even more significant.
“Once I joined F3, where you get more exposure, there was really big support from the Brazilian fans,” he said. “It’s always been nice to see how much they cheer and how much they support you. Just being able to do my first Formula 1 race here in front of everyone will be something very special. So for sure, I’ll also try to give them a nice weekend. But like I said, step by step, and just try to do it in a good way.”
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