Rafael Câmara on performing at the highest level and 2026 Invicta Racing signing

Reigning FIA Formula 3 Champion Rafael Câmara has already started his preparations for the next step in his career, joining Invicta Racing in F2 for 2026.

The Brazilian starred this season, earning a record-breaking five pole positions and winning four races en route to the title, but his sights are now on his next challenge.

The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy talent says joining Invicta is an exciting opportunity given the team’s competitiveness in F2 over recent years, with the goal for 2026 clear: fight for another title.

“I’m joining a team that has fought for both Championships two years in a row,” Câmara said. “They’ve shown that they are a very strong team, so it’s like it’s up to me really.

“I think they’re having another great year this year, but it’s never going to be easy next time. It’s never easy performing at the highest level.

“That’s why I’ll be working during this off-season period to make sure that when we start together, we’ll be in good shape and ready to fight for another Championship.”

Following his announcement as an Invicta driver, Câmara has been busy at home in Brazil, present with Ferrari during the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend as well as spending time with family after a busy racing season.

It means he has yet to visit Invicta’s UK base, but has already been working with the team on the simulator ahead of his promotion next season.

He will also get to see how the team operates on a race weekend as he’ll attend the F2 season finale and shadow Invicta across each session, something he believes will help speed up his adaptation to his new team.

“I haven’t been to visit the team yet, they are busy with Qatar and Abu Dhabi preparations, but I have done some sim work with them to prepare for those races. I’ll be going to Abu Dhabi to watch the team and meet everyone.

“Then we will start working together in the post-season test. I think going to see how the team works before will be useful, as it’s good to know people before you start working together so you’re already comfortable.”

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Câmara isn’t the first F3 Champion to be making the TRIDENT-to-Invicta step, as he follows in the footsteps of compatriot Gabriel Bortoleto, and 2024 F3 Champion-turned F2 Championship leader, Leonardo Fornaroli.

Though their paths lay the blueprint for success after graduating from F3, Câmara says he will remain focused on what he can control, rather than any external factors, instead remaining laser-focused on his own performance as he chases more success.

“It’s good to see that they’ve both had a good year with Invicta. They’ve adapted well to the team, were straight up to speed and feeling good with them.

“They’re a good team, they have a good car, so I’ll make sure that I’m prepared well so hopefully I can get some good results too.

“You always focus on things that are in your control, so on my side, I’m preparing as normal, maybe a bit more on the physical side as F2 is a bit more demanding.

“After that, it’s about creating a positive relationship with the team, but the approach to every Championship for me remains the same.

“You have to be consistent and make sure that you don’t waste energy on things that are outside of your control. You need resilience to win a Championship, and I think I’m very focused on that from my side, so I won’t be making comparisons with them, I’ll just be focused on myself and trying my best to execute.”

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Ahead of the F2 season finale and his linking up with Invicta, the Brazilian will remain at home a little longer before resuming simulator work ahead of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi.

From there, he’ll be in Maranello over December, but then he heads back to Brazil to cap off one of the biggest years of his career so far to take stock and perhaps dream about what comes next.

“I’m in Brazil at the moment, but I’ll be coming back to Europe to do some sim with the team, and then I’ll head to Qatar with Invicta, learn about how they work on a race weekend and then it’s testing.

“It will be useful for me to see what happens at the team at the track. After that I head to Maranello for a few days, but then I go back to Brazil to stay with my family to finish up the year.”