McLaren and Ferrari arguing over which academy driver Haas should sign for 2027

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McLaren and Ferrari find themselves in a competition to try and determine Haas’ next driver, as two exciting names are in contention.

With Esteban Ocon’s future at Haas in doubt, there has been a lot of chatter about who Ayao Komatsu will replace the French driver with in 2027.

In the last few days, Rafael Camara has been linked to Haas, as the Brazilian F2 standout has been turning heads with his recent performances.

Does Esteban Ocon deserve a seat on the F1 grid in 2027?

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However, things might not be as straightforward for Haas, as McLaren now have a vested interest in their future driver selection.

It looks like both Ferrari and McLaren are set to try and convince Haas that their endorsed choices are the ones that need to be called up.

READ MORE: Yuki Tsunoda has already had ‘a serious discussion’ with F1 team who need a new driver

McLaren face pressure to deliver ‘attractive’ offer to Haas to call up Leonardo Fornaroli

According to Autosport Web, McLaren want Haas to call up their reserve driver, Leonardo Fornaroli, as their new driver next season.

This is one of the reasons they arranged for Fornaroli to take part in Haas’ Test of Previous Cars (TPC) recently, as it allowed the driver to get more experience with an F1 car.

However, this might not be as easy; Ferrari are currently pushing Haas to sign Rafael Camara, their academy driver, as the replacement for Esteban Ocon.

This would make sense, given that Haas already have Oliver Bearman, Ferrari’s other academy driver, in one of their seats.

The report from Autosport Web suggested that McLaren would have to provide a financially lucrative proposal to Haas officials to get Fornaroli the Haas seat next season.

READ MORE: Former F1 team boss once threatened to ‘cut’ his drivers’ gearboxes after they ignored team orders

What changes would you make to Ayao Komatsu’s ultimate F1 driver?

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McLaren and Ferrari’s conflicting interests can be leveraged by Haas

With both McLaren and Ferrari wanting Haas to provide their drivers with an F1 seat, Ayao Komatsu must ensure he gets the best deal out of whichever team he decides to side with.

Since both teams are leveraging their relationship with Haas to get their young drivers some valuable F1 experience before they offer them a seat, it is only right that Haas get something in return.

Yuki Tsunoda is no longer an option for Haas, but they can ensure they land a talented young driver while also establishing a strong relationship with a stalwart F1 team.

Ferrari’s relationship with Haas already exists, so one might guess that they have the edge in this situation. But McLaren could provide them with the better offer.