Camara rues errors but takes positives from wet F1 qualifying debut

Rafael Camara called his first F1 qualifying 'a positive session' despite two costly errors in wet conditions at his home Sao Paulo Grand Prix, leaving him 13th fastest and set to start P11 after grid penalties.

Why it matters:

Camara was thrown into the Haas seat after Esteban Ocon's abrupt exit, with the Brazilian already signed for next season. A points finish on debut would validate Haas's sudden promotion and give the 21-year-old valuable experience in a high-pressure weekend.

The details:

• Camara spun and hit the wall in Q1, then went off into the barrier in Q2 to trigger a red flag at Interlagos.
• He still qualified 13th on his first F1 qualifying appearance and gains places due to penalties ahead.
• The Brazilian admitted the mistakes disappointed him but felt the session was broadly positive.
• Teammate Ollie Bearman survived his own off-track moment to qualify sixth, benefiting from a mixed-up midfield and penalties.
• Bearman said Haas struggled to find the right tyre window in Q3 once the rain arrived.

What's next:

Camara wants a clean race and no repeat of Saturday's crashes. Starting from P11, he could score on debut with home support, but his priority is preparation and avoiding incidents. Bearman, meanwhile, believes Haas can fight for more on Sunday.