Ferrari tests Rafael Câmara in SF-25

Ferrari put Rafael Câmara in a Formula 1 car for the first time this week, running the Brazilian Ferrari Driver Academy driver in a private test at the Hungaroring in Hungary on May 13 and 14. The 21-year-old shared the track programme with fellow academy driver Dino Beganovic, according to multiple motorsport reports published on May 15. The running was carried out in an SF-25 as Ferrari used the break in the Formula 1 calendar to give two of its junior drivers mileage ahead of possible future grand prix weekend duties. Motorsport reported Ferrari was also evaluating Câmara for future first-practice appearances. ### When did Câmara first drive Ferrari’s F1 machinery? May 13 and 14 were Câmara’s first days in a Ferrari Formula 1 test, according to reports from Motorsport’s Spanish-language edition and other specialist outlets that tracked the Hungaroring running. ScuderiaFans said Ferrari held the private session in Budapest during the gap before the Canadian Grand Prix, with Câmara and Beganovic both taking laps in the SF-25. Rafael Câmara is a Ferrari Driver Academy member from Recife, Brazil, born on May 5, 2005, according to Ferrari’s driver profile. Ferrari said in October 2025 that Câmara would move up to Formula 2 with Invicta Racing for the 2026 season after winning the 2025 FIA Formula 3 title. ### Why was Ferrari running two academy drivers at the Hungaroring? Ferrari has two academy drivers in Formula 2 this season — Câmara and Beganovic — and Ferrari’s own season preview on March 5 listed both as its representatives in the category for 2026. (scuderiafans.com) That gives the team two in-house candidates for rookie practice appearances during the Formula 1 season. (ferrari.com) Motorsport’s report said the Hungaroring programme formed part of Ferrari’s evaluation of prospects for future FP1 sessions. ScuderiaFans, citing the same test, said Formula 1 teams are required to allocate four FP1 sessions per season to rookie drivers under the current rules, and described Câmara and Beganovic as strong candidates from Ferrari’s academy pool. (ferrari.com) ### Where does Câmara stand in Ferrari’s junior pipeline? Ferrari’s academy profile lists Câmara as a current Formula 2 driver and says he has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022. The same profile credits him with titles in Formula Regional Europe in 2024 and Formula 3 in 2025. March 9 was already a marker in Câmara’s 2026 season. Ferrari said he finished second in the Formula 2 feature race in Melbourne on his debut weekend in the category. (scuderiafans.com) Ferrari’s March 5 preview had called him a rookie in Formula 2 and said he entered the year with Invicta after taking the F3 crown the previous season. ### Why does the Hungaroring matter for this kind of test? (ferrari.com) The Hungaroring gave Ferrari a circuit away from its usual Italian test venues while Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 were between race weekends. ScuderiaFans reported the Budapest running took place at the circuit’s upgraded facilities and described it as a private training programme for the two academy drivers. (ferrari.com) The same report said Ferrari had used similar private running earlier in 2026 for other drivers, including Arthur Leclerc at Mugello. That places Câmara’s outing inside a broader Ferrari pattern of giving academy and affiliated drivers mileage outside race weekends. ### What comes next for Câmara and Ferrari? (scuderiafans.com) Ferrari has not publicly announced a date for any Câmara grand prix weekend appearance. Motorsport’s report said FP1 is a possible next step, while Ferrari’s academy structure gives the Brazilian and Beganovic an active route into those sessions if the team chooses to use them later in 2026. (scuderiafans.com) The next concrete milestones for Câmara remain in Formula 2 with Invicta Racing and in Ferrari’s rookie-session planning for the rest of 2026. Ferrari’s public academy pages continue to list Câmara and Beganovic as its Formula 2 drivers, the pool from which any future Ferrari FP1 call-up would most likely come. (ferrari.com) (scuderiafans.com)