Kush Maini has been a consistent podium finisher in 2024 and even won his first FIA Formula 2 race at the Hungaroring. But how did the Indian racer find his way to the penultimate rung on the motorsport ladder?
Karting
An illustrious career in karting spanning 2011 to 2015, Kush notched titles in national championships as well as finishing in the top three of the coveted WSK Super Master Series.
Italian F4 Championship
From 2016 to 2017, Maini raced in the fiercely competitive Italian F4 Championship, claiming a podium and 53 points in his first season and a further two podiums and 114 points in his sophomore campaign.
BRDC British F3 Championship
Then, in 2018, Kush switched his focus to a UK-based championship and really found his form. Taking a win, two poles and eight podiums en route to third in the Drivers’ standings, he finished ahead of both household names Billy Monger and Jamie Chadwick.
After a year’s break in Formula Renault Eurocup, he returned for another stab at the British F3 title and finished one position higher with the runner-up spot in 2020, having claimed three wins and 12 podiums along the way.
F3 Asian Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship
The 2021 season would be one of variety for Kush, as he made his foray into the F3 Asian Championship where he secured two fastest laps and a podium, while he also made a one-race appearance in the LMP2 class at the Bahrain round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
FIA Formula 3 Championship and FIA Formula 2 Championship
Two seasons on the F1 feeder circuit followed; 2022 in FIA Formula 3 in which he scored a podium and the following season in FIA Formula 2, again scoring a podium for Campos Racing.
His performances in the high-profile categories didn’t go unnoticed either, earning the attention of two-time F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen who became Kush’s mentor. Around the same time, he also signed for the Alpine Young Driver programme.
F2 with Invicta Racing
The 2024 season has been Kush’s most varied and most fruitful yet. With Invicta Racing, he has claimed podiums in Jeddah, Melbourne, Catalunya and Silverstone, as well as his first F2 victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix Sprint Race.
His activities haven’t been limited to F2 either, serving as Mahindra Racing Reserve Driver for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, as well as testing a 2022-spec A522 Alpine F1 car at the Red Bull Ring in June.
