It could.
At 22500 ft it was providing at least 400 Hp more (1/3rd more) than BMW-801; price being greater weight and bulk. Point was to mate the 2-stage R-2800 into an airframe that would be tailored for speed (= thinner wing, not that big wing area), rather than for good CV handling (= big, thick wing basically, along with CV 'compatibility' extras, eg. folding wings, necessary strengthening and hook), like it was done historically with proper CV birds, Hellcat Corsair.
Basically, we're looking at Tempest II airframe + 2-stage R-2800.