Rafael Câmara has paired strong one-lap speed with regular podium finishes during his first Formula 2 (F2) campaign, placing himself firmly in the championship fight with Invicta Racing. The Brazilian secured five podiums across the opening nine rounds, including Feature Race victories in Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps, while also claiming four pole positions.
However, Câmara’s season has also featured difficult moments. Costly errors in Monaco and Montreal forced the 21-year-old to assess his decision-making and consider when he should prioritise the wider championship picture over an immediate opportunity.
Despite growing attention surrounding his work with Ferrari and his prospects of reaching Formula 1, Câmara remains focused on developing alongside Invicta and making the most of his 2026 Formula 2 campaign.
Learning when to control the risk
Câmara has responded strongly to several setbacks this season of the F2 championship. After a difficult weekend in Monaco, he returned to the top step of the podium in Barcelona. He also bounced back from missing out on a podium at Silverstone by winning the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race. The Invicta driver believes his ability to recover reflects the strength of his mentality, although he accepts that he must continue learning when a potential reward does not justify the risk.
“This year I’ve been very good on that. would say those two weekends I hold myself accountable bit more but obviously you want to fight. Montreal was a bit too risky, sometimes you don’t need to take that risk. Monaco, the big mistake was already done before, but the fight with Nikola caused another mistake. So some moments I need to take it easier on myself, even if it’s tough in that moment.”
“I think in terms of the mental side I’m quite confident that we are strong. We work very well as a team, and whatever happens, happens. It’s the mentality of just trying to learn as much as I can with the team, grow together, so we just get stronger through the season. At the beginning of the season, I wanted to make sure that I was doing my best and not leaving anything on the table. But for sure there are things that I could have done better, and I think in a way it was part of the learning as well.”
Developing an open relationship with Invicta
Câmara joined Invicta Racing after winning the 2025 Formula 3 championship with Trident, meaning he had to adapt to a new team for the second consecutive season. The Brazilian has quickly settled into the British outfit. He credits the positive environment within Invicta and the transparent relationship he has developed with his race engineer for helping the partnership progress.
“It’s a place where you have a very nice vibe. It’s a very nice place to be, everyone working in the same direction, pushing 100% for each other. Every weekend we get to understand each other better and I am feeling more at home. So it’s been good, but we need to keep working how we have been and everything will be good.”
“I think my engineer and I, we are very transparent. We’ve been working very well since I started, and he’s a very nice person. Obviously in the moments I make mistakes, he’s transparent and no one keeps anything from each other. Every time we speak with each other, we are very open. So we don’t have any egos, and that lets us work very well together.”
Preparation and focus behind qualifying form
Qualifying has become one of Câmara’s greatest strengths during his rookie year in the 2026 F2 championship fight. He claimed four pole positions across the opening nine rounds and qualified inside the top six at every event before the summer break. Câmara places significant importance on Free Practice, using the session to understand the circuit, refine the car and prepare himself for the demands of qualifying. He also works with a psychologist to ensure he concentrates on the elements within his control.
“First of all, FP is very important. You learn where you need to be in quali, what you need to do with your team, and in the car setup. I’ve been lucky as well, that I’ve been always been with good teams. I think on my side I really try to focus on the moment, and the things that I can control. Whatever me and the car can do at the moment we take that. Of course I do some work with my psychologist, we speak a lot, and I always try to put myself in a good position for quali, making sure that I am focused on the right things.”
An emotional Formula 1 opportunity with Ferrari
Câmara has belonged to the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022, and his performances have earned him opportunities to drive Formula 1 machinery for the Italian team during 2026. His first experience in a Ferrari F1 car represented a milestone for both Câmara and his family. However, the Brazilian knew he had to balance the emotion of fulfilling a lifelong ambition with the responsibility of delivering useful work for the team.
It’s something that you always want to try, driving an F1 car. My parents were there, and it is something that the whole family has been working towards for a very long time, so it was special for me and for my family. Obviously, the dream is to be in Formula 1 full time. But it was something that was very emotional at the time. At the same time, it’s your work.”
“You try to enjoy it as much as you can, but you still need to do a good job. But it was a very nice experience knowing how they work in F1. Obviously, I have sometimes been there during the race weekends, but it’s another thing when you’re actually the driver. I learned a lot working with them. It’s crazy the amount of people that are there just for one driver – well it was Dino in the morning and me in the afternoon – but it’s crazy how many people are there for you.”
Keeping Formula 1 speculation in perspective
Câmara’s form in this year’s F2 championship and his involvement with Ferrari have led to speculation about a potential Formula 1 opportunity in 2027. Although he views the attention as an encouraging indication that his ultimate goal is moving closer, he does not want it to distract him from his current responsibilities. Instead, Câmara remains focused on his championship challenge with Invicta. He believes performing at the front of Formula 2 offers him the clearest route towards earning a future opportunity.
“It’s good to see. You don’t really know at the moment, but it’s nice to have this, and to see that the dream is close. But at the same time, you don’t want to get too much into that because I’m still in a very important championship, and if you do well, most likely you’re going to get a chance. So, on my side, I’m just really focusing on this year.”
“Not many people get this opportunity, especially being in a team that’s one of the best in Formula 2 and having the chance to fight for the championship. So I would just want to make the most of it and make sure that I enjoy every moment.”
