I am positive about what’s to come: Kush Maini hopeful about F1 dream despite disappointing start to season

The start of 2025 has been bittersweet for Indian racer Kush Maini. The Alpine Academy member was named the Enstone-based team’s Test and Development Driver ahead of the season, taking him one step closer to the pinnacle of motorsport – Formula One. 

But the 24-year-old has had a difficult start to his third F2 season, failing to score a single point in the season opener in Melbourne and the following race in Bahrain for his new team, Dams. 

The first couple of days in Jeddah didn’t go to plan either, qualifying 12th while his teammate Jack Crawford took pole. The Dams driver only managed a tenth-place finish in the sprint race, finishing outside the points again.

Last year was quite similar. Although he bagged the Constructor’s title with Invicta Racing, Maini had a disappointing year individually, finishing 13th in the standings, while his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto sealed progress to F1 with a dominant Championship win. 

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Despite the setbacks, Maini is committed to making the most of his opportunities in the second tier and with Alpine to realise his F1 dream. 

The young driver spoke at length about overcoming his struggles, working towards F1, the help extended by Alpine and much more in a chat with select media on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Here are some excerpts:

Q. It has not been the ideal start for you this F2 season, and qualifying in Saudi was a setback. What went wrong, and how do you fix that? 

A. Coming back to the track on which I started on pole last year, I had high expectations. But we had a small issue with the straight-line speed. These issues happen in racing, and I feel blessed that I’m supported by these great people in Dams and Alpine. They’ve been working very hard to make sure the car is back up to pace.

Q. Everything has to fall in place for you to achieve the F1 dream. Do weekends like this affect the possibility of realising it?

A. I think the important people behind me know what happened in qualifying and see the data. So, that’s all that concerns me. I just need to do my job and do it 100 per cent and when the car is there and when everything aligns, I know I’ll be fighting for the win. The way I felt in qualifying with the car, I haven’t felt in a while. So, I’m so positive for what’s to come. 

Q. This is your third different team in the last three years in F2? How has the new environment been, and has the constant shifting been an issue? 

A. I think very strong. We struggled a bit in Bahrain, but back here in Jeddah, we’re back on it.  I’m fully confident with the car, even though it’s been tough. I’m so positive and that’s the main thing because I feel there’s a lot more to come.

Q. You had a torrid second half of last season, not scoring a point over the last five races. How did you manage to bring back that motivation to go again for a fresh shot this year?

A. Honestly, even though stuff was going wrong, I don’t think I was 100 per cent. If what happened in qualifying had happened last year, I would be a completely different me right now. Everything happens for a reason, and I just need to learn these small lessons, and hopefully, one day, on a much bigger stage, I’ll use these.

Q. There is an alternate career path open in the form of Formula E with Mahindra Racing. Does that mean there is less pressure on you? 

A. I hold myself to Formula 1, so no, it doesn’t ease the pressure. Every time I get the opportunity [in Formula E], I jump in and drive, and I really enjoy it. It’s nice to drive with an Indian team. But, growing up, we’ve put everything into this [F1] dream, and I want to see it through whatever happens. 

Q. Do you see this as a make-or-break F2 season for you?

A. Formula 2 is tough. It’s very up and down. You can be on pole one year, and the next year you come to the same track with the same team, and you can be nowhere. In the end, I know this is a make-or-break season because I just haven’t shown enough. The pace in the F1 car isn’t enough, unfortunately, which I completely agree with. So there is a lot of pressure but I feel last year taught me how to deal with the pressure.

Q. How has the new testing and development role been with Alpine? In what way have you been helping the team in the background?

A. Last year wasn’t an ideal year, and they promoted me to reserve driver because they saw something. Even in the very hard moments, they come through, and they’re always getting the best out of me. I’m really grateful for that. 

I do work on the sim, I’ll be doing some private tests, and in the end, they’re nurturing me and giving me support on and off the track. I would just say they’re keeping me ready for when the results do come. They have full trust in me that they can put me in the car and I’ll be reliable enough to do a good Free Practice and get some good data.

Q. The TPC programme is obviously with older cars. But how much do you think it prepares you for when you jump into the current specification of cars?

A. I think the simulator is great in Enstone, I think we have a great simulation team who help you get up to speed. Obviously, I do simulator before I drive a test car, and honestly, when I jump in, it feels like I’ve driven before. 

Q. You are the third Indian to be directly involved in Formula 1. Do you think these days it’s become tougher compared to the times of Karun [Chandhok] and Narain [Karthikeyan]?

A. What Karun and Narain did is amazing, and I really look up to them as role models. I still speak to both of them and ask for advice. For Indians, it’s very tough to get to this point. I see the sport growing, but it’s going to take time. My goal right now is to make it and see what I can do to help the country grow in this aspect.

Q. How much tougher is it to make it to F1 for an Indian compared to a European?

A. Let’s just say at 12 years old, I packed my bag and left home alone, lived with a mechanic and spent two months in Italy without knowing the language, versus an English boy going on a Sunday with his dad one hour down the road to a karting track. So, I think that’s a good example.