Haas’s latest TPC test comes as focus on its 2027 driver decision grows

Haas has completed its latest Testing of Previous Cars run, with Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara taking part, and the significance goes beyond another day of old-car mileage. According to Motorsport.com and Autosport, the timing of the test matters because focus on Haas’s 2027 driver line-up is increasing.

The key context is that Haas is one of the few teams to have already officially decided its driver line-up for next season. The reporting does not suggest any immediate change, but it does make clear that Haas has a degree of certainty that many rivals do not yet enjoy. That stability matters because it gives the team room to think further ahead, particularly as the 2027 silly season has begun to gather pace since the end of the summer break.

TPC sessions are valuable precisely because they let teams evaluate talent in a controlled setting without the pressure of a grand prix weekend. The three drivers involved in this latest run show the sort of mix that makes those days interesting from a planning point of view. Hirakawa brings experience, while Fornaroli and Camara are part of the younger-driver pipeline that teams often use to help shape future decisions. The sources do not say Haas is close to making a choice, and there is no confirmed link to a specific 2027 deal, but the selection of drivers does underline that the team is keeping its options open.

That is what makes this test more than a standalone private run. When a team with its current lineup already set keeps investing in evaluations, it usually points to a longer-term assessment process already being under way. Haas does not need to wait for the market to fully crystallise before it starts comparing profiles, gathering data and observing how different drivers respond in its environment. In that sense, the test is part of the broader planning cycle rather than a headline-grabbing announcement.