Rafael Câmara qualifies 13th in Haas debut at São Paulo
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 7, 2026
Camara debut
Rafael Camara took a sudden step into Formula 1 for his Haas debut, with the learning curve steep. The unexpected first start for Haas came at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, his home race, after the team moved up his planned arrival from 2027 when Esteban Ocon was ruled out for the rest of the season. It was Camara’s first day in a 2026 Formula 1 car, and he called the experience “very special” as he settled into the machinery on short notice. He finished 18th in first practice and 16th in second practice, two sessions that gave him his first look at the car in live running. Camara said he still had a lot to learn as he adapted to the car’s machinery, a fair assessment for a driver brought into the program without the usual runway.
Camara qualifying
Camara then turned that learning day into a more encouraging qualifying run, even with the session affected by the weather. Heavy rain and standing water made the conditions tricky, but he described the session as positive. He spun and hit the wall in Q1, then crashed into the barriers in Q2, but still managed to qualify 13th. That result leaves him set to start Sunday’s race from P11 because of grid penalties ahead of him. Camara also picked up a reprimand for impeding Charles Leclerc at Turn 15, and stewards said the incident was “clearly dangerous.” Even so, the final qualifying position leaves him set for Sunday after a day that included two incidents. He said he wanted a clean race in his Formula 1 debut.
Haas decision
Haas had to make a tough call to put Camara in the car, and team principal Ayao Komatsu said the decision came after a Portimao test shoot-out helped convince him the Brazilian could handle the pressure of an F1 debut. The team moved his timeline forward because of Ocon’s absence, and that meant Camara arrived in the cockpit earlier than expected. Komatsu’s confidence in him came from what Haas saw in that evaluation, and the squad backed that judgment by giving him the seat at home. The weekend also offered a direct comparison inside the garage, with teammate Ollie Bearman qualifying sixth. Bearman said the team managed the wet tyres well. The rookie responded by getting through practice, surviving two incidents in qualifying and still placing himself in position to start well inside the front half of the field after penalties are applied ahead of him.
