Rafael Camara explains approach ahead of Haas F1 debut at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Rafael Camara will make his Formula 1 debut this weekend in front of home fans at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, driving for Haas as he moves up from F2 earlier than expected. Speaking during Thursday’s media day in Sao Paulo, the 21-year-old said he is trying not to add pressure to himself, noting he has never driven Haas’ 2026 car or taken part at Interlagos before.

Camara framed his preparation around controlling his own process, saying: “I think for myself, whatever people are speaking about or whatever is happening outside has never really been a problem.” He added that he always tries “to just focus on my side, focus on things that I can control,” describing off-track events as outside his influence.

Haas’ decision to give Camara a debut seat is linked to a change in its driver lineup. The team confirmed that Esteban Ocon will no longer compete for Haas for the remainder of the season after being replaced during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. That shift has opened the door for Camara, who has already been confirmed with Haas for the 2027 season, to step into a first F1 outing sooner than anticipated.

Ryo Hirakawa was the reserve driver who stepped in last weekend, eventually being classified 10th on his F1 debut. However, the Japanese driver is not available to race in Sao Paulo because he is competing for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship this weekend, leaving Haas to look to Camara for the main-drive opportunity.

Camara said his jump into F1 has not left him starting entirely from zero. Although he has never driven at Interlagos, he conducted simulator work ahead of the Sao Paulo weekend as a Ferrari junior driver, with the work linked to an earlier expectation that he would have FP1 running later in the year. He stressed that these sessions included laps in an older car, but said they still provide useful preparation.

Looking specifically at the on-track learning he will have this weekend, Camara said he will rely on “three sessions” to build his understanding after the simulator work. He pointed to the fact that he has “never driven here,” but added: “We have three sessions, and then definitely you can build from these sessions.”

Camara’s F1 debut also reflects his current form in the junior ladder. He is currently at the top of the F2 standings in his rookie campaign, with two rounds remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Haas has not confirmed whether Camara will race for the team in those final two outings, and he said that decision is not settled yet, stating it is “something that is still to come and still in the future,” with his immediate attention focused on this weekend.