‘Câmara has talent to succeed in F1 like Bortoleto’: Mariana Becker on the Brazilian wave through Formula 2 ranks

With confirmation of Rafael Câmara’s Formula 1 promotion with the Haas F1 Team in 2027, he becomes the latest talent out of Brazil to make it to the sport’s grandest stage.

Following in the footsteps of compatriot Gabriel Bortoleto, having both won the FIA Formula 3 title with TRIDENT, and with Câmara leading F2 driving with Invicta Racing, his rise has been just as exciting.

Journalist Mariana Becker says that it is the latest success story that has reignited a passion for motorsport in Brazil.

“It's big because you have to consider the whole history Brazilians have with Formula 1,” she explained. “We are talking about at least the fourth generation of driver now.

“Emerson Fittipaldi, and then Nelson Piquet, and then Ayrton Senna, all great champions. So there’s been this great sense of tradition in the sport, it’s not just someone that came and went and was forgotten.

“We had three very big and important champions, then we had Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa, who were second in the World Championship.

“Massa was then fighting for Williams, not anymore for a championship in another level, and we had a newer guy in Felipe Nasr, but he didn't have a fair opportunity there.

“So it was very hard for Brazilians to find someone new to support. After generations, there was no one to cheer for. They were cheering for Lewis, they were cheering for Leclerc, they were cheering for Max, but they weren't Brazilians. It's not the same, especially for Brazilians.

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“Then all of a sudden you have Gabriel Bortoleto, who showed a very strong, promising junior career and way of driving.

“He's the same generation as the people who are starting to be in love with Formula 1. And so it was already something to celebrate.

“And now there’s Rafa. People started hearing about this guy, he was the Champion in FIA Formula 3. He’s now leading Formula 2 and people are talking about him with the same expectation as with Bortoleto.”

The success of both Câmara and Bortoleto has led to a bigger following of the sport and an increased interest in the junior categories.

Fans are now eager to know where the next generation of driver is going to come from, and that becomes clear when drivers reach FIA Formula 3, with the FIA pathway leading to Formula 1 through F2.

The biggest factor behind that is the homegrown factor. With an already legendary history in the sport, it’s the new generation that are now the driving factor in Brazil.

Becker says that the results are already visible with fans asking her about the up and coming talent carving out their own path up the single-seater ladder in what is a tough journey for those leaving home and racing in Europe.

“I think it's a big thing for Brazilians because they are now feeling they are part, active part in this Formula 1 world. They're not just looking, watching, they're part of it.

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“For sure there’s been more interest. After one of them had arrived, people started to go like, okay, let's have a look at who’s coming next.

“This is something natural. I remember when Gustavo Kuerten started to win in tennis and won the Roland Garros three times, the number of kids playing tennis in Brazil went up. I have no doubt that it will happen again in karting.

“Now, others are arriving; Gabriel Gomes, who has signed for Formula 3. And when I posted on my Instagram, immediately people were asking about him. And some people already knew who he was and what he had won.

“This was something that we didn't have before. People didn't know unless they were an F2 Champion. Many of the new fans, they don't understand how they get there. The boys leave home early to live in Europe, which is not an easy thing.

“It's a very big leap because they're not living at home. It's far, it's really far away from home. The ones that got the chance had to be really, really, really good.”

Returning to Câmara’s promotion for 2027, Becker is of the belief he has the tools he needs to succeed, but it will be a question of how he handles the increased pressure of Formula 1.

Clearly fast as demonstrated by his record-setting year in F3 for poles in a single season, the future Haas driver could be well placed to make the most of his promise by joining the American outfit.

Becker added that as with Bortoleto before him, a period of learning will be needed but plenty of Brazilians will be cheering him on regardless.

“It depends a lot on many things, but also on how he is going to face the pressure of Formula 1. It's a completely different animal here. From what I see, he has the talent to be very good in Formula 1.

“Haas seems to be a nice environment for him to grow up. Ayao Komatsu, the Haas team itself, I think it's a nice environment for him to learn and to continue his path.

“He has everything he needs, but we have to see how he's going to react to all the pressure that Formula 1 puts on every driver. So we have to see. I cannot tell you he's going to be big, but that’s the same thing I said about Gabriel.

“People ask me a lot in Brazil at the moment when a new driver shows up. Can you imagine the millions of people we have in Brazil cheering for these new drivers in Formula 1? It's a lot of people.

“I think both of them are very, very good. Of course, Rafa has to learn, but he’s not someone that I would have doubts over on matters of talent. But let’s see if he can go from the pure talent to an actual competitor."