After a dramatic weekend last time out in Mexico City, F1 will unexpectedly welcome its third new driver of the season in Brazil.

Ryo Hirakawa made his grand prix debut on short notice after Haas unexpectedly defenestrated Esteban Ocon after Friday practice, finishing tenth to earn a point in his first – and possibly only – race.

Hirakawa will not race at Interlagos this weekend, with Haas confirming earlier in the week that Rafael Camara, their 2027 pick to replace Ocon, will step up for his own debut.

In a team release this week, Camara spoke of the 'special' feeling of knowing that he will make his F1 debut in his own country, thanking both Haas and Ferrari – the team whose driver academy he's been a part of since 2022.

Rafael Camara expresses Ferrari gratitude

“I’m grateful to TGR Haas F1 Team for giving me this opportunity, and I also want to thank Ferrari for their continued support," Camara said ahead of the biggest weekend of his career.

"Making my Formula 1 debut in Brazil is a special moment for me. I know there is a lot to learn, and my focus is on working closely with the team, understanding the car and doing the best job I can this weekend.”

It's currently unclear whether Camara will get behind the wheel in Las Vegas to start the season-closing triple-header – although there are indications that he will – and whether he'll give up his pursuit of the F2 title to compete in Qatar and Abu Dhabi (if those races do indeed go ahead).

Camara leads Nikola Tsolov by seven points heading into the theoretical final two rounds, meaning that he would almost certainly lose the title if he was racing in F1 for Haas in Qatar and Abu Dhabi rather than in F2 with Invicta, with double duty unlikely to be feasible.

Haas chief reveals Camara decision

In a statement on Tuesday, team principal Ayao Komatsu said on the situation: "We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with TGR Haas F1 Team this season.

"Such decisions are never made lightly, as was the case in Mexico City, but then, as now, we feel this is firmly in the best interests of the team moving forward.

"The conversations that ultimately unfolded between the team and Esteban remain an internal matter, and we will continue to respect the private nature of closed-door situations.

"Looking ahead, we’ve chosen Rafael Camara to drive alongside Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Having excelled in his TPC outing in August, we know Rafa’s capabilities and we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the team this weekend and working with him through his Formula 1 debut driving the VF-26 in Brazil."