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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Kush Maini on becoming first Indian to win F2 race at Monaco Grand Prix: ‘Proud to hear National Anthem play so loud'
Fresh off a groundbreaking victory at the Formula 2 Sprint Race in Monaco, Kush Maini is still processing what it all means—not just for him, but for Indian motorsport as a whole. In an exclusive post-race reflection, the 24-year-old opened up about the emotions behind the win, the national pride he felt, and the overwhelming reaction back home. 'It's an amazing feeling. Monaco is such an iconic circuit, and to have our national anthem play so loud across those streets—it was a dream come true," he told us. The moment marked a turning point in Kush's journey, not only as his first win with DAMS Lucas Oil but as a symbol of hope for a growing motorsport culture in India. A post shared by Kush Maini (@kushmainiofficial) 'It's been a massive boost in confidence. And the response online has been amazing. People are finally giving the sport the credit it deserves, and that means a lot,' Kush said. Despite being part of what he calls a 'small community of hardcore fans,' Kush admits he was taken aback by the wave of love and recognition that followed his win. 'I was shocked to see the reaction. Motorsport in India is growing but still not that big. And yet, after the win, the response has been unimaginable. I just want to thank everyone who's talked about this or shared the moment—it truly means a lot,' he said. For him, the win wasn't just personal—it was collective. He's quick to credit the people behind the scenes: the supporters, friends, and family who've stood by him through the highs and lows. During the national anthem, as the emotion of the moment sank in, Maini allowed himself a rare pause. 'I was closing my eyes in the middle of it. I just wanted to take it all in. You understand the importance of it—standing there in front of everyone,' he said. But despite the achievement, Kush remains grounded, with his sights still set on long-term goals. A familiar voice reminded him of that right after the race. 'My dad's always the one who says, 'Well done,' but I like to be the one to think that haven't achieved my goals yet, I still haven't achieved or performed on my full potential. This win tells me I'm on the right path, but there's still a long road ahead,' he ended.
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First Post
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- First Post
Kush Maini creates history in Monaco: How is Formula 2 different than Formula 1
Kush Maini made history over the weekend by winning the Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first Indian driver to collect a win at the iconic street circuit in Monte Carlo. Here's how F2 differs from Formula 1, where the 24-year-old currently is a test driver with Alpine. read more Kush Maini made history over the weekend by pulling off a spectacular victory in the Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Monaco Grand Prix. The 24-year-old, who stormed to victory after starting from pole position, thus became the first Indian driver to collect a win at the iconic street circuit in Monte Carlo, located along the picturesque French Riviera. It certainly was a historic moment for Indian motorsport with Maini standing on top of the podium and the national anthem playing in the background at Circuit de Monaco, where business tycoon and automobile enthusiast Gautam Singhania was also among those present. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Maini, representing DAMS Lucas Oil, won the nerve-wracking 30-lap reverse-grid sprint race with a timing of 44:57.639, finishing 3.705 seconds ahead of Prema Racing's Gabriele Mini and 7.299 seconds ahead of Hitech TGR's Luke Browning. 'P1 and first Indian to win at Monaco. It's a great honour and a dream come true, really. We keep believing,' Maini said after collecting his second Formula 2 victory, having previously won the Feature Race in Jeddah last year. His victory comes two months after he had joined the Alpine team as their reserve driver for the ongoing Formula 1 season. And while his heroics in Monaco certainly fill Indian motorsport fans with hope, Maini still has some distance to cover before he can realise his dream of racing in the Formula 1, where Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok remain the only Indian drivers to have competed till date. How is Formula 2 different from Formula 1? Formula 1, after all, is the highest class of open-wheel, single-seater racing, and is considered by many as the pinnacle of motorsport (although American motorsport enthusiasts might want to bring NASCAR into the conversation). And comparing F2 with F1 would be akin to comparing the Championship with the Premier League in English club football. The top teams in the Championship are promoted to the Premier League at the end of a season. Similarly, while F1 is motorsports' equivalent of the top-flight, F2 serves mainly as a feeder series as well as a training ground for future Formula 1 stars. The vehicles might appear similar at a glance, but are different in more ways than one. While each constructor is responsible for building their own cars in F1, all cars in F2 have the same chassis (built by Italian race car manufacturer Dallara) and gearbox (Hewland). Additionally, an average F1 car (798kg) outweights its F2 counterpart (755kg). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And it goes without saying that the engines in F1 are a lot more powerful than in F2, given it is the top-tier after all. F1 engines have a horsepower of 1,000 while those in F2 have an upper limit of 620. This translates to faster cars in the higher category, with F1 cars reaching top speeds of 230mph (370 kmph) compared to 200mph (321 kmph) in F2. How the two categories differ in format and points distribution The two racing categories also differ in their formats. An F1 race comprises three practice sessions on Friday and Saturday followed by qualifying on Saturday and the main event on Sunday. Some events also have a sprint qualifying, which reduces the number of practice sessions to just one and establishes the starting field for Sunday's race. F2 race weekends, on the other hand, have a qualifying session on Friday that establishes the starting grid for Sunday's Feature Race. The Sprint Race that takes place on Saturday is a standalone event which features a reverse starting grid, wherein positions 1-10 for the main race are inverted, while positions 11-22 remain the same. And while F1 and F2 races typically take place at the same circuit, the former is a lot longer in terms of the number of laps. The points distribution is also the same for the top 10 drivers; F1, however, awards a point for the fastest lap for drivers finishing in the top 10 and eight points for the sprint winner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD F2, meanwhile, awards a point for the fastest lap in the feature as well as sprint race, so long as the driver finishes in the top-10, and 10 points for the sprint race winner with the driver finishing runner-up collecting 8 and the one finishing third earning 6.
India Today
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Kush Maini becomes 1st Indian to win F2 Monaco GP, jubilant Anand Mahindra reacts
Under the shimmering skies of the Cte d'Azur, Kush Maini etched his name into racing history with a spectacular victory in the Formula 2 Sprint Race on the iconic streets of Monaco. Displaying precision, composure, and unshakeable focus, he claimed his first F2 win of the season—and his maiden podium with DAMS Lucas Oil—at the most prestigious venue in motorsport. This historic achievement makes him the first Indian driver to win at from pole position, the BWT Alpine F1 Team reserve driver showcased masterful control and strategic poise throughout the race. He made the most of a strong start and managed the pressure with veteran-like maturity, securing a dominant lights-to-flag victory. Maini had qualified P10 for Sunday's Feature Race, placing him on pole for Saturday's Sprint Race due to the reverse grid system. From the moment the lights went out, the DAMS driver led confidently for all 30 laps.'P1 and first Indian to win at Monaco. It's a great honour and a dream come true, really. I want to thank DAMS and everyone who's supported me. We keep believing,' said an emotional Kush after the podium tycoon Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, heaped praise on Kush Maini for the incredible achievement. advertisementTaking to X, Mahindra wrote, 'You are Standing Tall, @kmainiofficial and the country stands tall with you. Kush Maini making history as the 1st Indian winner of an F2 race in Monte Carlo. We are proud to have you on our team at @MahindraRacing.' Following a challenging start to the 2025 season, the Monaco win arrived at the perfect moment - boosting both his confidence and momentum at a critical point in the what was a truly special moment for Kush and the nation, he proudly sang the Indian national anthem during the podium celebrations. Indian business tycoon Gautam Singhania was seen embracing Kush in the pit lane after the win. Singhania's JK Racing, along with TVS Racing, have supported Maini throughout his this landmark victory, Kush now looks to carry the momentum into Sunday's Feature Race and into the upcoming round in Barcelona next weekend.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
F2: Kush Maini makes history with Sprint Race victory at iconic Monaco GP
Kush Maini won the Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Monaco Grand Prix to become the first Indian to achieve the feat at the hallowed track on Saturday. Maini claimed his first F2 victory of the season and his first podium with Dams Lucas Oil, making him the first Indian to win at one of the most prestigious tracks in the world. Having started from pole, the BWT Alpine F1 team reserve driver capitalised on a strong start, showing control and precision. Maini qualified P10 for the feature race on Sunday, which made him the pole sitter for Saturday's Sprint Race with the reverse grid system. Having had a solid start at lights out, the Dams driver enjoyed all 30 laps of the race as the race leader. Also read | Monaco GP qualifying: Norris puts McLaren on pole; Hamilton and Verstappen in fourth, fifth 'P1 and first Indian to win at Monaco. It's a great honour and dream come true really. I want to thank DAMS and everyone who's supported me. We keep believing,' said Maini. Having endured a tough start to the 2025 season, the Monaco win came at the right time to boost his confidence and performance.
First Post
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- First Post
Proud moment for India as national anthem played in Monaco after Kush Maini wins an F2 race
Kush Maini created history by becoming the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race in Monaco. The emotional moment was marked by the Indian national anthem playing at Monte Carlo after his stunning Sprint Race victory. read more It was a proud and emotional moment for Indian motorsport fans as Kush Maini made history by winning the Formula 2 Sprint Race in Monaco on Saturday. This win not only gave him his second F2 career victory but also made him the first Indian driver ever to win a race in Monaco, which is considered one of the most iconic circuits in the world. As Kush stood at the top of the podium in Monte Carlo, the Indian national anthem played in the background, making it a goosebumps moment for many fans watching around the world. It is a rare sight to see an Indian driver achieve something so big on the global motorsport stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After his big win, Kush said, 'P1, first Indian to win in Monaco too. It's a great honour and a dream come true. I want to say thank you to DAMS and everyone who has supported me. We keep believing!' INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM IN MONACO 🫡#KushMaini has made history - becoming the first Indian to win an F2 race at Monte Carlo 🇮🇳 With a flawless lights-to-flag drive, he clinched victory in the F2 Sprint for DAMS Lucas Oil on the iconic streets of Monaco. 👑 #MonacoGP #F2 — FanCode (@FanCode) May 24, 2025 Kush starts strong and holds his nerve till finish line Driving for DAMS Lucas Oil, Kush Maini started from pole position and stayed strong throughout the race. He was under constant pressure from Gabriele Mini, a fellow Alpine Academy driver racing for PREMA, who was right behind him for most of the race. Despite the pressure and a safety car interruption in the middle of the race, Maini stayed calm and managed to keep his lead till the finish line. Kush is currently ranked 13th in the 2025 Formula 2 Drivers' Standings with 11 points to his name. His team, DAMS Lucas Oil is ranked sixth with 54 points.
