Rafael Camara ‘very special’ trait highlighted as Ocon sack triggers early debut

Jamie Woodhouse

07 Nov 2026 11:25 AM

Haas F1 driver Rafael Camara

Rafael Camara has been backed for an “incredible” Formula 1 career, while his “natural speed and natural talent” have been described as a “very special” asset.

Those comments come from his Invicta Racing Formula 2 boss James Robinson. The young Brazilian was already due to join Haas in F1 2027, but his graduation has come early as he debuts on home soil at the Brazilian Grand Prix, following the dismissal of Esteban Ocon.

Rafael Camara ‘incredible’ F1 career teased

Haas confirmed Camara, backed by the Ferrari Driver Academy, as one-half of its F1 2027 driver line-up. However, there has been a twist.

Ocon was stood down at the Mexican Grand Prix, replaced there by Ryo Hirakawa. After the permanent exit of Ocon was confirmed, the nod was given to Camara to debut ahead of schedule at Interlagos.

It remains unconfirmed whether he will see out the season, the 21-year-old currently leading the Formula 2 championship with two rounds of the season remaining.

Speaking exclusively to PlanetF1.com, before Camara’s early arrival at Haas was confirmed, Robinson gave an intriguing insight into the strengths of his driver, the “fastest” Invicta has had the pleasure of working with.

There remains areas, understandably, where the F1 newcomer can fine tune his craft, but Robinson envisages a very bright future for him.

Reacting to Camara’s Haas F1 2027 confirmation, he said: “It’s great news for him. Obviously, incredibly happy for him and his team as well and his family.

“It won’t be a surprise for people to know the amount of commitment that they’ve given him and his career to date, and support he’s had not just from his family, but his management and the group of people he has around him. They’re all, I’m sure, sharing in this success and so they should, because they’ve all done a great job.

“But of course, Rafa is the guy who has to deliver it on track. I’m really, really happy for him.

“His talent is undeniable. He is, and I’ve said this before, unquestionably the fastest driver I’ve seen come into our team. He has a talent and a feel for the tyres like nobody I’ve seen before. He has just a natural ability that’s remarkable.

“He obviously has other areas in his repertoire that he has to work on, and he is still working on. I think they’ve been quite well documented, and obviously he’s made some mistakes this year that have cost him a lot of points.

“But in terms of natural speed and natural talent, he is very, very special indeed, and I think he’s going to have an incredible Formula 1 career because his ceiling is just so high.”