Who Is Kush Maini? Indian Driver Officially Becomes Part Of Formula 1

Indian motorsport enthusiasts have a new reason to celebrate as Kush Maini steps into the world of Formula 1. The 24-year-old has been named as the test and reserve driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team. Following Alpine's announcement, Maini became only the third Indian driver to be part of a Formula 1 team, joining the ranks of Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.

Born in Bengaluru, Kush Maini has been carving out a name for himself in the world of racing for years. He began his journey in karting before making his way through the junior categories, competing in championships like the BRDC British Formula 3 and FIA Formula 3. Consistent performances earned him recognition, paving the way for a move to Formula 2.

Maini first joined the Alpine Academy in October 2023 and quickly made an impact. Competing in the 2024 Formula 2 season, he secured five podium finishes, including a victory in Budapest. His performances convinced Alpine to expand his role, elevating him to test and reserve driver status while he continued racing in Formula 2 with DAMS Lucas Oil.

In his new role, Maini will be involved in Alpine’s development programme. He will work in the squad’s state-of-the-art simulator at Enstone base located in the UK, where he will be assisting with car development. He will also participate in the TPC (testing of previous cars) programme, which will provide him with on-track experience in F1 machinery.

Expressing excitement about the new opportunity, Maini said, “I am delighted to step up to the role of test and reserve driver for BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team this season.”

He added, “I am looking forward to getting more track time in Formula 1 machinery in this role and to build on what I have already learned with the team in 2024.”

Julian Rouse, director of Alpine Academy, praised Maini’s development and contributions, saying, “Kush has impressed the team across his TPC performances and Formula 2 results whilst we have been working with him and we expect he will continue to do so in 2025.”

Maini joins a select group of Alpine reserve drivers, including Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and Franco Colapinto. While his immediate focus remains on competing in Formula 2, his new position with Alpine places him one step closer to a full-time seat in Formula 1.