Ryo Hirakawa could be handed another opportunity with Haas for the final two races of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Rafael Câmara’s unexpected promotion to the race seat having already delivered an early glimpse of the Brazilian’s potential.
The Japanese driver is reportedly in discussions with Haas management about returning for the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, following his appearance at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The proposed arrangement would see Câmara contest the Las Vegas race before handing the car back to Hirakawa for the championship’s Middle Eastern finale.
Hirakawa could return after Mexico City appearance
According to Italian publication Formula1.it, Hirakawa is being considered for a return to the Haas cockpit for Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The 32-year-old Japanese driver stepped in for Ocon at the Mexico City Grand Prix, making his Formula 1 race debut after previously undertaking free practice outings with the American team.
He made an immediate impression, finishing tenth and securing a championship point in his first Grand Prix.
Hirakawa brings considerable experience from endurance racing, having won the World Endurance Championship with Toyota and claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
His potential return is also linked to the availability of Câmara, whose commitments in Formula 2 have complicated Haas’ late-season driver arrangements.
Brazilian publication ge.globo previously reported that Câmara would contest the São Paulo and Las Vegas races, with Hirakawa expected to return for the final two rounds.
No official confirmation of the complete arrangement has yet been issued by Haas.
Câmara and his F1 debut in Brazil
Câmara’s promotion came much earlier than originally anticipated.
Haas announced in October that the Brazilian had signed a multi-year agreement to join the team from 2027, replacing Ocon as part of its longer-term driver plans.
However, following Ocon’s departure from the race line-up and Hirakawa’s unavailability for Brazil because of his Toyota endurance racing commitments, the opportunity arrived ahead of schedule.
The 21-year-old made his Formula 1 debut at Interlagos on 8 November, partnering Ollie Bearman in front of his home crowd.
It was an especially significant occasion for Câmara, who had never previously driven at the Brazilian circuit.
His first weekend was far from straightforward. He recorded 18th and 16th places in the opening practice sessions before encountering difficult conditions during qualifying.
The Brazilian survived an incident in Q1, only to crash again in Q2. Despite the difficulties, he qualified 13th and started the race from 11th following grid penalties for other drivers.
Sunday brought further challenges, with changing weather conditions making the race particularly demanding for a rookie.
Câmara eventually finished 20th, but completed his first Grand Prix and gained valuable experience ahead of his planned full-time promotion.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur praised the youngster’s underlying speed, while Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu acknowledged the mistakes but highlighted the difficult circumstances surrounding his debut.
Haas face a decision over Câmara and Formula 2 commitments
The remaining races could have important consequences for Câmara beyond Formula 1.
The Brazilian entered the closing stages of the Formula 2 season as championship leader for Invicta Racing, having established himself as one of the standout performers in the category.
His potential participation in Las Vegas before returning the seat to Hirakawa would allow him to preserve the possibility of competing in the decisive Formula 2 rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
However, not all reports agree on the team’s intentions.
While ge.globo reported that Câmara was expected to race in São Paulo and Las Vegas, GPblog subsequently reported that Haas could retain him for the remainder of the Formula 1 season, potentially preventing him from completing his Formula 2 campaign. With the Brazilian already contracted to Haas for 2027, the team must weigh his immediate development in Formula 1 against the value of allowing him to complete his championship challenge in Formula 2.
Hirakawa’s experience could prove valuable to Haas
For Hirakawa, another opportunity would represent an important continuation of his Formula 1 involvement.
His performance in Mexico demonstrated that he could step into a race seat and deliver a result without extensive preparation.
Haas now have an interesting choice between evaluating their future signing further and relying on the experience of a driver who has already delivered points for the team.
With Câmara’s debut now completed, the remaining question is whether Haas intend to give the Brazilian further exposure before his full-time arrival in 2027 or allow Hirakawa to finish the season.
The team has yet to publicly confirm its final driver arrangements for Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, leaving the situation open to further developments.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
