The Haas Formula 1 Team is actively evaluating its driver lineup for the 2027 season, with particular focus on McLaren junior Leonardo Fornaroli and Ferrari academy prospect Rafael Camara. This assessment comes as the future of current Haas driver Esteban Ocon beyond the 2026 season remains uncertain.
Leonardo Fornaroli, a McLaren development driver, has emerged as a prominent candidate. The Italian secured the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2024 and followed this by winning the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2025.
Fornaroli joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in December 2025 and holds a reserve driver role for the 2026 Formula 1 season. He has undertaken testing in McLaren’s MCL60 and MCL40 cars.
Earlier this season, Fornaroli participated in a Free Practice 1 session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he impressed by setting the fifth-fastest time. He also completed a two-day Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session with Haas at Jerez, driving the team’s 2025 challenger, the VF-25.
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has acknowledged Fornaroli’s capabilities, noting his strong performance and the quality of McLaren’s development programme. Fornaroli is scheduled for another FP1 outing with McLaren at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, taking Oscar Piastri’s seat.
Rafael Camara, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, is also under consideration by Haas. The Brazilian driver won the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025 and is currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for Invicta Racing during the 2026 season.
Camara recently completed his inaugural Formula 1 test in May 2026, driving the Ferrari SF-25 at the Hungaroring. He has also accumulated the necessary points to qualify for an FIA Super Licence, making him eligible for a Formula 1 race seat.
Reports from Brazilian outlet UOL suggest Camara is expected to sign as Haas’s official F1 reserve driver for the 2027 campaign. This role would provide further development before a potential full-time race seat.
Haas’s current driver lineup for 2026 consists of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. Bearman, also a Ferrari junior, is firmly established within the team.
Ocon’s contract concludes at the end of the current season, and his performance in 2025 and 2026 has been a point of concern for Komatsu. Haas finished seventh in the Constructors’ Championship in 2024 and currently holds P7 in the 2026 standings after nine rounds.
While Ferrari maintains a close technical partnership with Haas, often serving as a proving ground for its junior talent, Haas has historically made independent driver decisions. Yuki Tsunoda, a Red Bull reservist with Toyota backing, is another name linked to a potential 2027 seat.
