On lap 11 of the São Paulo Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto and Rafael Câmara were fighting over 19th place on a wet track. On lap 40, they were side by side again, this time on soft slicks on dry asphalt. For the first time in a decade the Brazilian crowd had two home drivers on the grid, and two old rivals from karting had found each other again in Formula 1.

From Formula 2 to Interlagos

Câmara already had a Haas seat for 2027 when an opportunity opened up early. The team had decided to part with Esteban Ocon, and his stand-in in Mexico, Ryo Hirakawa, had a World Endurance Championship commitment. Câmara had tested the 2025 Haas in August. Two things were new to the Formula 2 championship leader in São Paulo: he had never raced at Interlagos and had never driven the current VF-26.

The Brazilian reached Q2 on his first attempt before hitting the barrier. He qualified 13th and penalties elsewhere promoted him to 11th on the grid, one place outside the points. By the end of the opening lap he had dropped to 16th. Bortoleto was last, five positions behind his compatriot.

A familiar face in the mirrors

Both times they met on track, Câmara was running 19th and Bortoleto was approaching in the Audi. The more experienced driver came out ahead on both occasions. Afterwards, Bortoleto reckoned it had been five or six years since they had fought like that. He enjoyed it, even if he would have liked them to be racing for something further up the order.

Câmara found the opening stint particularly difficult. At times, he said, the challenge was simply to keep the car on the track. He stopped for soft tyres on lap 15 and rejoined 21st. A second set of slicks followed on lap 50 before fresh rain brought him in for intermediates on lap 61. Bortoleto finished 16th, while Câmara completed 69 laps and was classified 20th, the last driver to take the chequered flag.

Câmara admitted he had wanted more from his home Grand Prix. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu valued the fact that, after Saturday’s crash, his new driver had brought the car home undamaged despite a few mistakes. Komatsu had seen the pace he was looking for. What he wants from Câmara now is to produce it lap after lap.

Sources · Haas · ge · Formula 1 · FIA final classification

Rafael Câmara in an archive photograph.