(June 2, 2025) Under the skies of Monte Carlo, Kush Maini stood atop the podium as the Indian national anthem echoed through the Monaco street circuit. Moments earlier, Maini had clinched a “dream come true” victory, becoming the first Indian ever to win a Formula 2 race. Driving for DAMS (DAMS Lucas Oil team), he dominated the F2 Sprint Race from pole position, leading every lap with precision on one of motorsport’s most unforgiving tracks. “We kept believing, and it paid off,” Maini said after the win, crediting his team and supporters for standing by him through the highs and lows of his journey. It was a big moment for Indian motorsport — a start-to-finish win at the famous Monaco Grand Prix weekend that thrilled fans back home.
Kush’s win in Monaco was a powerful moment. India has only had two Formula 1 drivers — Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok — so seeing an Indian win on such a legendary track was a big deal. His victory in the highly competitive Formula 2 race showed that an Indian driver can compete with the best in the world and win. Business leader Anand Mahindra summed it up by saying, “the country stands tall with you.” With the Indian flag flying high in Monaco, Kush Maini became a symbol of India’s growing presence in global motorsport.
Kush Maini wins big in Monaco
How Kush Maini Found His Way to the Track
Kush Maini’s journey to Monaco started on the go-kart tracks of Bengaluru, where his racing dreams took shape within a motorsport-loving family. Born in Bangalore, Kush grew up in a home that was all about racing. His father, Gautam Maini, raced single-seaters in the 1990s, and his uncle, Chetan Maini, created India’s first electric car, the Reva. But it was his older brother, Arjun Maini, who had the biggest impact. Arjun was already a successful racer and even became a development driver for the Haas Formula 1 team in 2017. Watching his brother succeed made Kush want to follow the same path.
“My brother was the reason I got into motorsport,” Kush Maini says honestly. As the younger sibling, he looked up to Arjun and wanted to do everything he did. “Whatever he was doing, I wanted to do as well,” he recalls, remembering how their weekends were spent racing go-karts. At first, it was just for fun. “Until I was around 11, it was more of a hobby—I was into other sports too,” he says. But seeing Arjun succeed pushed Kush to take it more seriously. “I started racing at 5, just wanting to follow what my dad and brother were doing. Arjun had set the bar high, so I kept pushing myself to reach it.” That drive helped turn his early interest into a real passion and set him on the path to becoming a professional racer.
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By the time he was 11, racing was no longer just a hobby for Kush—it had become a serious goal. At age 12, he made a bold move: he left India to compete with top young karting talent in Europe. It was a clear sign of both his determination and the strong support from his family.
Climbing the Racing Ladder – From Formula 4 Upwards
Kush Maini’s professional racing journey truly began in 2016 when, at just 15, he made his debut in the Italian Formula 4 Championship. The move to Italy was a big step—Italian F4 is known for launching future F1 stars, and Kush wanted to prove himself on international tracks. He adapted quickly, showing talent even as he adjusted to life far from home.
In the years that followed, Kush steadily moved up the ranks, racing in junior series across Europe. He competed in Formula 4 in both Italy and Germany, won key karting events, and then moved up to tougher competitions like the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and the Formula Renault Eurocup. Along the way, he earned podium finishes and gained valuable experience. Not every race ended with a trophy, but those ups and downs helped him grow. Each challenge taught him more about racing—and himself—preparing him for the bigger stages ahead.
By 2019–2020, Kush Maini had made his mark as one of India’s most promising young racers. He even explored endurance racing, driving an LMP2 car in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Bahrain. But his main focus remained single-seaters. In 2020, he stepped into the FIA Formula 3 Championship with MP Motorsport—just one level below F2. While he consistently scored points and showed strong racecraft, the real challenge was off the track: finding the funding to keep going.
In 2021, his career nearly stalled due to budget issues. But a lifeline came from the Indian team Mumbai Falcons, who offered him a seat in the Asian F3 winter series. He grabbed the chance, secured a podium in the final round, and stayed in the game.
The real turnaround came in 2022. With fresh support from Mumbai Falcons and JK Racing, Maini returned to Europe full-time and delivered a strong F3 season. His efforts paid off—by the end of the year, he earned a spot on the FIA Formula 2 grid. It was a major leap. For the first time, two Indians—Kush and Jehan Daruvala—were on the F2 grid. “A couple of years ago it seemed impossible,” Maini said, looking back on the struggle. But he had made it, carving his own path while continuing the family legacy.
In 2024, he moved to Virtuosi Racing (also known as Invicta Virtuosi), and things started to click. That year, he claimed his first Formula 2 victory in the Sprint Race at Budapest, Hungary.
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It was a big moment—not just for him, but for Indian motorsport—as he became the first Indian in years to win an F2 race. The win turned heads in the paddock and showed that with the right car, Maini could challenge the best.
Riding high on that success, he joined the renowned DAMS team for the 2025 season. And that move paid off in a big way—he won again, this time in Monaco, in what became the most iconic victory of his career so far. It was his second F2 win, but without a doubt, the most historic.
Flying the Indian Flag – Alpine F1 Reserve and National Pride
Kush Maini isn’t just racing—he’s carrying the hopes of Indian motorsport. In October 2023, after a strong Formula 2 season, he was inducted into the Alpine Academy, the Formula 1 team’s development program. By March 2025, he was named an official reserve and test driver for Alpine F1, making him only the third Indian to be officially linked to an F1 team, after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
For fans back home, seeing Maini in Alpine gear, ready to step in, is a proud moment. Maini knows the weight of the tricolor he carries every time he puts on his helmet. He credits his growth to backing from programs like Mumbai Falcons and support from mentors—including F1 legend Mika Häkkinen. With the right support and mindset, Maini is racing toward a future that could include a seat in Formula 1.
Challenges, Sacrifices, and a Changing Motorsport Landscape in India
Kush Maini’s journey to the top hasn’t been easy. As an Indian racer aiming for Formula 1, he faced big hurdles—distance, funding, and limited access to tracks. “It’s a lot tougher when you’re from a country like India to race and win at the top level,” he said in an interview. While kids in Europe could drive to racetracks on weekends, Kush had to leave home, travel constantly, and sacrifice a normal teenage life. “I really didn’t have a home because I was always on the move,” he recalled. But he doesn’t regret it. “It was a lot of sacrifice… but I’d do it all over,” he added, driven by a dream that once seemed out of reach for Indian racers.
His story also reflects a bigger shift in India’s motorsport scene. When he began, there were few quality tracks and very little support. “That’s why I had to leave for Europe so early,” he explained. But things are changing. He and fellow Indian driver Jehan Daruvala racing in F2 is already a sign of progress. “The interest in the sport is growing now more than ever,” Maini said.
New developments are helping young Indian racers move up the ladder. The country now has its own FIA-certified Formula 4 championship, and the Indian Racing League is bringing city-based teams and international drivers to local tracks. Racing infrastructure is slowly improving. Programs like Mumbai Falcons, who back Maini, are playing a major role. “They’ve helped a lot in making a better path for us Indians—without them, I wouldn’t be on the grid,” he says. Their logo on his car is more than branding—it’s a symbol of hope for the next generation.
Maini can feel the change happening. “Back when I started, we didn’t have this kind of support… now they’ve done so much over the last few years,” he says, talking about the growing infrastructure for racing in India. He often mentions wanting to inspire the next generation of Indian drivers and knows that his journey is already giving others hope
Inspiring a New Generation
Kush Maini’s journey started on the dusty karting tracks of Bengaluru, chasing his older brother and a dream. Years later, he stood on the top step in Monaco, not just as a race winner, but as a symbol of how far grit and belief can take you.
In just over a decade, he’s gone from racing in junior series to winning in Formula 2 and becoming a reserve driver for Alpine F1. At every step, he’s carried the hopes of a country that’s still new to global motorsport.
Even as he celebrates his historic Monaco win, Maini remains focused. With half the 2025 F2 season still ahead, he’s already looking toward his next challenge in Barcelona. “We kept believing, and it paid off,” he said after his win—words that capture both his journey and his mindset.
Maini’s success has sparked fresh hope in India’s motorsport scene. In a country where cricket rules and racing has long been on the sidelines, his victory shows that big dreams are possible. He wants to be the inspiration that past Indian F1 drivers were to him—and he’s already well on his way.
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