Maini moves a step closer to his F1 aspirations, joining the Alpine driver development academy.
Indian Formula 2 rookie Kush Maini is the latest addition to the Alpine Academy – the F1 team’s young driver development programme. As part of the programme, Maini will benefit from the guidance of the Alpine F1 team as well as the wider Alpine Academy staff, along with access to the team’s state-of-the-art facilities at its Enstone base.
- Maini currently 11th in the F2 championship
- Being mentored by Mika Hakkinen
- Piastri, Zhou former graduates of Alpine Academy
Maini made his single-seater debut in 2016, racing in the Italian F4 Championship. Since then, he’s gone on to race in Formula Renault Eurocup, British Formula 3 and FIA F3. He’s currently competing in his rookie season in FIA F2 with Campos Racing and is being mentored by none other than two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen.
The 23-year-old currently sits 11th in the drivers’ standings. He scored his first-ever F2 podium at the Australian GP Sprint Race. “I am super excited to be joining the Alpine Academy. It’s a dream come true to be associated with a team like BWT Alpine F1 Team, where I can learn and grow to hopefully one day be ready to take the step into Formula 1. A massive thank you to Alpine for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” said Maini.
Maini joins his F2 rivals Jack Doohan (who is currently reserve driver for the Alpine F1 team) and Victor Martins at the Alpine Academy. From the current crop of F1 drivers, both Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) are graduates of the programme.
“We are happy to welcome Kush into the Alpine Academy. He is a young talent who we believe has strong potential and will be a great asset to our driver development programme,” said Julian Rouse, BWT Alpine F1 Team Interim Sporting Director.
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