Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara selected for the F1 2027 position based on performance, not Ferrari connections.

Previously, Komatsu indicated that Haas did not need to favor any specific junior team when selecting drivers for 2027. The addition of Camara, along with the anticipated retention of Oliver Bearman, means that Haas will have two Ferrari juniors on the grid next season.

However, Komatsu clarified that his decision was solely based on selecting the fastest driver from the TPC sessions. "He was the quickest, that’s a very straightforward answer," Komatsu remarked. "Without a doubt, he was impressive."

"I've always stated that our driver selections are based on performance. Throughout these evaluations, Rafa demonstrated remarkable speed and feel. That was the paramount factor above all else. We maintain a strong relationship with Ferrari, as you know, which allows us access to FDA drivers."

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

"When we had Oli in the Mexico FP1 [in 2023], it was largely due to that. We were truly impressed, so we arranged for him to participate in six FP1 sessions the following year. Then we had the opportunity to sign him for '25 last year. Rafa's situation was similar. We are monitoring his development."

"His qualifying performances in Monaco and Montreal [in Formula 2] this year were particularly impressive. The relationship with Ferrari provided us the opportunity to, let’s say, have access to Rafa. And during the Portimao TPC test, he was simply outstanding."

"I don’t have major concerns. Naturally, there are risks associated with any decision you make. However, we were keen to select someone with inherent speed and feel, because that’s something unteachable."

"If you observe some of the F2 races, he sometimes races very well with good tire management, but at times he doesn’t. His race craft could use improvement."

"Those aspects, I trust we can collaborate to enhance. However, we cannot instill feel. The feel he possesses was evident during the Portimao testing as the track conditions were constantly shifting — track temperature, wind conditions, and we also faced some issues with tire vibration."

"Despite all the variations and challenges presented to him, he assessed them very well in a calm and professional manner. So overall, that made the choice clear for us."

Rafael Camara, Invicta Racing

Komatsu mentioned that a possible FP1 appearance for Camara before the season concludes was currently "TBC," and the team had the flexibility to decide on this later.

He elaborated that Haas' prior experience with preparing Bearman for a drive in 2025 would influence how they work with Camara, but they needed to familiarize themselves with their new signing before tailoring their program to suit him.

"It's a different scenario, as we had access to Oli throughout the year via multiple FP1 sessions," Komatsu added. "We don’t know Rafa as well as we did Ollie prior to entering the full season. It's exciting, but we need to focus on what’s ahead of us."

"We must understand who Rafa Camara is, what drives him, and what aspects we should monitor. I anticipate it will be a learning journey for both parties.

"However, we draw significant confidence from how we’ve worked with Ollie throughout his rookie season and this year to nurture his talent and consistency together.

"In Formula 1, every learning opportunity is crucial for improvement. All the recent insights we’ve gained with Ollie will be applied to Rafa. But first and foremost, we need to comprehend Rafa Camara as an individual. He is also a rookie, but they are two distinct personalities."