While available seats are expected to be particularly rare for 2027, Haas F1 Team will take advantage of three days of testing in Portimão to evaluate several young talents for the future.
Read more The FIA’s crushing blow against the Red Bull engine
Haas F1 is accelerating its thinking for the 2027 season. Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara will notably be part of it, while Ryo Hirakawa is also expected to get behind the wheel.
Haas has reserved the Portuguese circuit from Wednesday to Friday to organize TPC (“Testing of Previous Cars”) tests with last season’s VF-25, a program funded by partner Toyota.
The official objective is to offer track time to several drivers, but the lineup gathered in Portimão especially gives this session the appearance of a full-scale audition for 2027.
Fornaroli-Camara Match
Leonardo Fornaroli, McLaren reserve driver, will thus be present. The Italian already knows the single-seater as he had the opportunity to drive the VF-25 for the first time during a TPC test in Jerez in June. This second appearance suggests that his performance had convinced Haas and could also allow the team to use him as a reference against other candidates.
Rafael Camara will also benefit from an important opportunity. Currently competing in Formula 2 and considered one of the main hopes of the Ferrari Driver Academy, the Brazilian is clearly being prepared by the Scuderia for an upcoming arrival in Formula 1.
Fred Vasseur does not hide the fact that Haas is a preferred option: « Haas is our partner and, together, we are trying to find the best way to get Camara into Formula 1 next year », explained the Ferrari team principal.
Scuderia Ferrari is already investing heavily in the preparation of its young driver: « We support Raffa enormously. It’s not just financial support: we have also carried out many TPC tests with him this year. We are doing this to prepare him as best as possible for the test with Haas and for next season. »
Read more Toto Wolff discusses his son Jack’s karting debut: too early to think about Formula 1
Toyota also pushes Hirakawa
A third candidate is expected to participate in the tests: Ryo Hirakawa. The Japanese driver obviously benefits from a different asset as he is closely linked to Toyota, now a technical partner of Haas.
The Japanese manufacturer would like to see Hirakawa secure a full-time seat in Formula 1 and has reportedly agreed to cover almost the entire cost of these three days of testing. This support also gives Haas an excellent reason to seriously evaluate his candidacy, even though the Japanese veteran is already 32 years old.
Even if the precise program will probably remain confidential, it is therefore difficult to consider these tests as a simple development session. With Fornaroli, Camara, and Hirakawa gathered in Portimão, Haas has an ideal opportunity to compare several solutions for 2027.
Ocon too expensive?
The driver directly concerned is obviously Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman wishes to continue with Haas and hopes to obtain a contract extension. But his future within the team appears increasingly uncertain.
Beyond performance, the equation would also be economic. Haas still operates well below the budget cap, and replacing Ocon with a young driver financially and technically supported by a major manufacturer could represent a particularly interesting operation. Ocon’s salary is estimated at around five million euros per season. Between the savings made on this remuneration and potential support from Ferrari, McLaren, or Toyota to place one of their drivers, the potential benefit could approach ten million euros for Haas.
The American team especially has an advantage: it has no reason to rush. With very few potentially available spots on the 2027 grid and several interested candidates, Haas can leverage competition before making its decision.
Read more McLaren is on a roll: comeback in sight for Lando Norris?