Who Is Kush Maini? 24-Year-Old Bengaluru Lad Creates History For India in Formula 2
Star India racing driver Kush Maini on Saturday, May 24, became the first from the country to win a race in Formula 2, when he clinched the sprint race title in Monaco, in a historical moment for India as well as the nascent history of motorsports racing in the country.
Maini started the sprint race from pole position, thanks to F2's reverse-grid rule, which inverts the top 10 qualifiers for Saturday's race.
After bagging 10th place in qualifying for the feature race, Maini capitalised on the opportunity with a perfect performance on the challenging streets of Monaco to bring home massive glory.
Who Is Kush Maini?
Born in September 2000 in Bengaluru, Kush is the younger brother of Arjun Maini, who was a development driver for the Haas F1 team in 2017 and 2018. He is also the nephew of Chetan Maini, a co-founder and Vice Chairman at SUN Mobility and an Indian business magnate in the electric car industry.
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Maini has competed in Formula 4 before, the Formula Renault Eurocup, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and FIA Formula 3.
Maini is an Alpine Academy member, from which Jack Doohan and Romain Grosjean graduated into Formula 1.
Maini began his single-seater career nine years back, competing for BVM Racing in the Italian F4 Championship. His campaign began strongly, scoring points in the first six races of the year.
After a tough middle part of 2016, Maini scored his first podium in car racing, taking third place at the final race in Vallelunga. He finished the season 16th in the standings and ended up fifth in the rookies' championship.
For 2017, Maini moved to Jenzer Motorsport, once again racing in Italian F4 with Giorgio Carrara, Federico Malvestiti, Giacomo Bianchi and Job van Uitert.
Maini's sophomore year would prove to be more successful, with two podiums at Imola and Monza, as well as a series of top-five finishes, helping him finish eighth in the end results.
In 2018, Maini stepped up to the British Formula 3 Championship with Lanan Racing. The season ended up being a breakthrough year, winning the reverse-grid race at Rockingham and scoring seven further podiums.
Intending to remain in the Eurocup in 2020 with three-time champions R-ace GP, Maini changed his plans after COVID-19 and returned to the British F3 series, teaming up with Hitech GP.
In October 2023, Maini was announced to be joining the Alpine Academy. He experienced his first Formula One test at the Red Bull Ring, driving the Alpine A522 and describing it as a dream come true.
First Published:
May 25, 2025, 12:53 IST
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