Rafael “Rafa” Chaves Câmara (born 5 May 2005) is a Brazilian professional racing driver currently competing for Invicta Racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. He has been a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022.
| Nationality | Brazilian |
|---|---|
| Born | Rafael Chaves Câmara 5 May 2005 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in / 1.69m |
| Weight | 68kg |
Raised in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, Câmara began his motorsport career in karting at the age of six, securing numerous regional and international honours before entering single-seater competition in 2022. After joining Ferrari’s junior development programme, he raced for Prema in Formula 4, finishing second behind Charlie Wurz in the UAE Championship and placing third in both the Italian and ADAC championships. His progression continued into Formula Regional in 2023, achieving third place in the Middle East series and recording multiple European Championship victories. Remaining with Prema for 2024, he secured the Formula Regional European Championship title before moving to FIA Formula 3 with Trident, where he became champion during his debut campaign.
Having established himself as one of Ferrari’s leading young prospects, Câmara is scheduled to make his Formula One debut with Haas in 2027, racing alongside fellow Ferrari academy graduate Oliver Bearman.
Rafael CAmara Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Haas |
| Driver Number | TBC |
| Entries | 0 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2027 Bahrain Grand Prix |
| Last entry | – |
Early and personal life
Rafael Chaves Câmara was born on 5 May 2005 in the Boa Viagem neighbourhood of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. His father, Amaro Câmara, works as a lawyer, while his mother, Paula Chaves, is a businesswoman. His maternal grandmother, Niége Rossiter, was among the pioneering figures involved in motorsport in Recife during the 1960s.
Câmara is a relative of ultra-marathon endurance athlete Cas Camara. Despite sharing a surname, he has no family connection to Brazilian racing driver and Formula 2 race winner Sérgio Sette Câmara.
Racing career
Karting: 2011–2021
Câmara entered competitive karting in 2011, initially participating in the Pernambuco State Championship. Following success across the national and regional competitions he entered, he began competing internationally and quickly developed a reputation as a promising young driver. One of his most notable early achievements came in 2019, when he finished runner-up in the Karting World Championship’s OK Junior category while representing Forza Racing.
After moving into senior karting, Câmara placed fifth in the European Championship during his first season at that level. His final karting campaign in 2021 proved particularly successful, bringing victories in the WSK Champions Cup and WSK Super Master Series. He also finished second in the European Championship, concluding his karting career with several major international achievements before transitioning to single-seater racing.
Formula 4: 2022
F4 UAE
Câmara began his single-seater career in 2022 with Prema Racing, entering the Formula 4 UAE Championship as preparation for his upcoming European campaigns. His debut was delayed when a COVID-19 infection prevented him from participating in the opening round. Upon returning for the second event in Dubai, he immediately demonstrated his competitiveness by securing his first podium finish.
At the following Dubai round, Câmara claimed his first two victories in car racing. His strongest performances arrived during the penultimate event, where he won three of the four races and moved into contention for the championship heading into the final weekend.
He opened the Yas Marina finale with another victory, but a collision during the third race resulted in retirement and effectively handed the championship to teammate Charlie Wurz. Câmara completed the season second overall, recording six wins and securing the rookie championship.
ADAC F4
Continuing his association with Prema Racing, Câmara entered the ADAC Formula 4 Championship alongside Charlie Wurz, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Conrad Laursen and fellow Ferrari junior James Wharton.
His championship began impressively at Spa-Francorchamps, where two runner-up finishes and victory in the third race allowed him to take the early standings lead. Although further victories proved difficult to achieve over the following rounds, Câmara remained Antonelli’s nearest championship rival, collecting additional podium finishes at Hockenheim and Zandvoort.
His hopes of challenging for the overall title suffered a major setback when a second COVID-19 infection forced him to miss the Nürburgring round. Nevertheless, Câmara returned strongly for the subsequent event at the same circuit, earning two pole positions and further podium finishes. He ultimately secured third place in the championship standings while winning the ADAC F4 rookie title.
Italian F4
Alongside his ADAC Formula 4 commitments, Câmara participated in the Italian F4 Championship with Prema Racing. He immediately emerged as a front-running contender, securing victory in the opening event at Imola after teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had been leading, encountered gearbox problems during the closing stages.
His second victory came at Misano, where he capitalised on a safety-car restart to overtake Antonelli and take the lead. At Spa-Francorchamps, Câmara produced another notable performance after stalling from pole position in the third race, recovering through the field to finish third.
Further podium results followed at Vallelunga and the Red Bull Ring, maintaining his position among the championship’s leading drivers. His only weekend without a podium came at Monza, and his final championship position was influenced by a first-corner collision with Alex Dunne during the concluding round. Câmara ended the season third overall, behind Antonelli and Dunne.
Formula Regional: 2023–2024
2023: First Formula Regional victories
Ahead of his main European campaign, Câmara contested the complete 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with Mumbai Falcons. Although he did not record a race victory, his consistency produced six podium finishes and third place in the final championship standings.
Following testing with Prema Racing towards the end of 2022, Câmara stepped up to the Formula Regional European Championship for 2023, joining former Formula 4 teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli and the experienced Lorenzo Fluxá.
His first victory in the category arrived during the opening race at Spa-Francorchamps, establishing him as a competitive newcomer. He subsequently secured another win at the Red Bull Ring and accumulated three additional podium finishes throughout the campaign. Câmara concluded his rookie European Formula Regional season fifth in the championship.
2024: Record-breaking championship campaign
Câmara remained with Prema Racing for the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, entering the season as one of the leading title contenders. He made an exceptional start, matching his entire podium tally from the previous year while claiming four victories across the opening three rounds.
Despite going without a win during the next two events, Câmara maintained his championship advantage through consistent results. Victory from pole position in the opening race at Paul Ricard further strengthened his position, extending his lead to 50 points over fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member Tuukka Taponen.
After the summer break, Câmara returned to winning form at Imola before suffering a difficult, points-free weekend at the Red Bull Ring. His substantial advantage nevertheless allowed him to secure the championship at Barcelona with one round remaining, following a podium finish and a fourth-place result.
He concluded the campaign with another victory at Monza, bringing his season total to seven wins and establishing a new record for the most victories in a single Formula Regional European Championship season. Câmara scored championship points at every round except one and never qualified lower than fourth. He ultimately finished 75 points ahead of runner-up James Wharton.
In addition to his European commitments, Câmara returned to Mumbai Falcons for the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship. He achieved two race victories and once again finished third in the overall standings, further demonstrating his competitiveness across both regional series.
FIA Formula 3: 2025
Following his Formula Regional European Championship triumph, Câmara advanced to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025, joining Trident alongside Charlie Wurz and former Formula Regional rival Noah Strømsted.
He made an immediate impact in his rookie season, claiming pole position and winning the feature race at the opening round in Melbourne. He repeated the achievement in Bahrain, establishing himself as the early championship leader and a principal contender for the title.
At Imola, Câmara secured his third consecutive pole position, becoming the first driver to achieve the feat since Logan Sargeant in 2020. Although his run of feature race victories ended at the Italian circuit, he still finished third behind Santiago Ramos and Trident teammate Strømsted.
Câmara continued his qualifying dominance in Barcelona, recording a fourth pole position and becoming the first driver in the championship’s history to achieve four poles in a season. He converted that result into his third feature race victory, controlling the contest from the front and leading every lap.
His strong performances throughout the campaign placed him in a commanding championship position. At the penultimate round at the Hungaroring, Câmara secured another feature race victory, which mathematically confirmed him as the 2025 FIA Formula 3 champion.
In doing so, he became the first driver to clinch the Formula 3 drivers’ championship before the final round since the introduction of the current series in 2019. His success completed a rapid progression through the junior categories, with consecutive championship victories in Formula Regional and Formula 3.
FIA Formula 2: 2026
After winning the Formula 3 championship in his debut season, Câmara progressed to the FIA Formula 2 Championship for 2026, signing with reigning front-running outfit Invicta Racing. He joined the British team alongside Paraguayan driver Joshua Dürksen.
Driving the Dallara F2 2024, Câmara continued his development within the final major category on the conventional pathway to Formula One. By 25 September 2026, he had recorded three race victories, six podium finishes, five pole positions and four fastest laps across 25 starts, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most accomplished young drivers in international single-seater racing.
Formula One career
Câmara became a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022, joining the Italian manufacturer’s development programme alongside British driver Oliver Bearman after participating in the Ferrari Driver Academy World Scouting Finals.
His involvement with Ferrari provided access to driver training, technical development and opportunities to gain experience with Formula One machinery while progressing through the junior racing categories.
By September 2026, Câmara had driven several Formula One cars as part of his development and evaluation programme, including Ferrari’s SF-25 and the Haas VF-25. These opportunities allowed him to gain experience with contemporary Formula One equipment ahead of a potential move into the championship.
Haas: 2027
On 15 October 2026, Câmara was officially announced as a race driver for Haas for the 2027 Formula One World Championship. He was selected to replace French driver Esteban Ocon and was confirmed as the teammate of Oliver Bearman, reuniting the two Ferrari Driver Academy graduates at the American-owned Formula One team.
Câmara secured the seat following an evaluation process that included appearances in Formula One machinery. He was chosen ahead of other candidates considered for the position, including Jack Doohan, reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and experienced Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa.
The appointment marked the culmination of his progression through karting, Formula 4, Formula Regional, Formula 3 and Formula 2, and positioned him to become one of the newest Brazilian drivers to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
Rafael CAmara Teammates
| 1 driver | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Bearman | – | 2027 |
Rafael CAmara Complete Formula One Results
Results to follow…
