Ferrari hails F3 champion Camara as ‘outstanding’ talent

Ferrari looks to have a rare talent on its hands in Rafael Camara, a long-time member of its Driver Academy who has claimed the FIA Formula 3 title in emphatic style in Hungary last weekend.

In a rookie season defined by speed, composure, and consistency, the 20-year-old Brazilian amassed five pole positions, four feature race wins, and wrapped up the championship with two rounds to spare – underlining why Ferrari has backed him since 2022.

Scuderia deputy team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio, who also heads Ferrari’s Driver Academy, hailed Camara’s achievements, emphasizing his maturity, talent, and potential for a future in Formula 1.

In Budapest, despite challenging wet conditions, Camara’s performance was a testament to his ability to balance speed and control.

“Honestly, I don't think we could have hoped for better,” d’Ambrosio told the official F1 website in Hungary.

“This season started strong, he managed really well in the moments where things were more tense, and I think that the race that we saw today sums it up: fighting for a championship in the wet on a track that's very slippery.

“It could have been easy for him to make a mistake. You could see that he was driving on the limit. He was fast, but he was under control. He chose when to push, chose when to open the gap, and that shows that he was in control.”

Building on a Track Record of Success

Camara joined the Ferrari Academy in 2022 and has never finished a single-seater campaign outside the top five. Only once has he missed a top-three championship result, and his F3 triumph follows his Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine title in 2024.

D’Ambrosio said the F3 crown was the product of consistent development both on and off the track.

“When you’ve got a talent like Rafa, this might sound harsh, but it is what you’re expecting and is what you want to see,” said the Belgian. “Our job is to support him in the best possible way so that he can deliver that and can express his talents to the maximum of its capacity.

“He’s been with us for several years, and I think he’s made a really big step. I actually first got to know Rafa when I was with another academy and he was competing against us.

“He was definitely one that we were wary of, because he was there always fighting for championships. I think he made a clear step in ‘24 winning the FRECA Championship, and then this year by winning in his rookie season in the Formula 3 Championship.

“What has been impressive in that period of time that I've got to know him is the way he's evolved, not only as a driver, but also outside of the track – he has tremendous maturity. I think the last 12 months have been incredible for him. He's performed outstandingly.”

A Driver Who Knows What He Needs

D’Ambrosio highlighted one trait in particular as a sign of Camara’s potential: his clarity in knowing what he needs to perform at his best.

“He has a unique way of knowing what he wants and what he needs to perform, which I think is extremely important for a driver,” he said.

“It's impressive. When you're investing into young talents and you're trying to support them in the best possible way.

“We had some discussions over the winter, which were quite interesting where, I think as an academy, we were suggesting some things, and he said, ‘No, Jerome, this is what I need. This is what I want.’

“And I remember saying, ‘Okay, then that's what you're going to get, and that's how we're going to support you.’ He knows what he wants or what he needs to perform, and that's a sign of maturity. That's a sign of strength.”

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For Ferrari, that self-assurance aligns with their broader mission of preparing talents for the top tier.

“At the same time as trying to identify if they've got what it takes to make that step –, and for Ferrari that is to one day drive a Ferrari Formula 1 car – having someone that is assertive in their choices and in knowing what he needs is, I would say, encouraging and reassuring that you've got someone that knows what he wants to perform in this sport.

“I think in any area, you have to know what you want, and you have to go for it. You have to believe in yourself, and you need to be objective by yourself also. And so Rafa has got these qualities, but again, the road is still long.”

Eyes on Formula 2 and Beyond

While Camara still has one round left in his F3 campaign, D’Ambrosio said the next step is already clear –Formula 2 in 2026.

“He definitely deserves a break now before Monza, going back to Brazil, have a good time with his family, and then the challenge and the work for next season will begin,” the former F1 driver explained.

“First of all, he has to close this season but then go on to prepare for the future.

“For him, Formula 2 will be the next step. It's a challenging one, and so we'll have to prepare that as best we can.”

Camara’s journey is still in its early stages, but if his rookie F3 season is any indication, Ferrari’s latest champion is well on track for bigger stages – and perhaps one day, the Scuderia’s Formula 1 cockpit.

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