After qualifying P10 for Sunday’s feature race, he was promoted to pole for Saturday’s sprint under the reverse grid system. He made a clean start and maintained the lead under pressure from fellow Alpine academy driver Gabriele Minì.
Published May 25, 2025 | 8:31 PM ⚊ Updated May 25, 2025 | 8:31 PM
Now in his third year in Formula 2, Maini is only the fourth Indian to race in the junior category, following his brother Arjun Maini and Jehan Daruvala.
Synopsis: Kush Maini became the first Indian to win a race at Monaco after taking victory in the Formula 2 sprint race on 24 May. The Bengaluru-born driver led all 30 laps from pole position for Dams Lucas Oil. The win marked Maini’s first podium of the 2025 season and came amid a difficult start to his campaign.
Bengaluru-born Formula 2 driver Kush Maini made history on Saturday, 24 May, by winning the sprint race at the Monaco Grand Prix — becoming the first Indian to claim victory on one of motorsport’s most prestigious circuits.
Driving for Dams Lucas Oil, Maini led the race from start to finish after starting on pole, courtesy of the reverse grid format. The 24-year-old stood on the top step of the podium as the Indian national anthem played across the streets of Monte Carlo for the first time.
Maini, who is also a reserve driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team, controlled all 30 laps with confidence and composure, securing his first Formula 2 win of the 2025 season and his first podium with his new team.
“P1 and first Indian to win at Monaco. It’s a great honour and dream come true really. I want to thank DAMS and everyone who’s supported me. We keep believing,” said an emotional Maini after the podium ceremony.
Maini’s performance in Monte Carlo marked a crucial boost in what has been a difficult start to the season.
After qualifying P10 for Sunday’s feature race, he was promoted to pole for Saturday’s sprint under the reverse grid system. He made a clean start and maintained the lead under pressure from fellow Alpine academy driver Gabriele Minì.
In the feature race on Sunday, Maini finished sixth, recovering from a chaotic first-lap incident that saw multiple cars involved in a pile-up at Turn 1.
Now in his third year in Formula 2, Maini is only the fourth Indian to race in the junior category, following his brother Arjun Maini and Jehan Daruvala.
He finished 13th in the standings last season with Invicta Racing, where his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto won the championship. Bortoleto now races in Formula 1 with Kick Sauber. Maini is currently mentored by two-time F1 world champion Mika Häkkinen.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
