Indian racer Kush Maini has successfully completed his maiden Formula 1 test with the BWT Alpine F1 Team, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning motorsport career. Maini, currently competing in his debut Formula 2 season with Campos Racing, took to social media to express his elation: “A dream come true to have had my first ever Formula 1 test with BWT Alpine F1 Team. Massive thank you to the entire team for this incredible opportunity. Can’t wait for the next one!”
This test comes on the heels of Alpine announcing Maini’s inclusion in their growing young driver development program. The 23-year-old joins a prestigious lineup that includes current F1 reserve driver Jack Doohan and the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Champion, Victor Martins. The Alpine Academy boasts a successful track record, having nurtured talents like current F1 racers Zhou Guanyu and Oscar Piastri.
Maini’s impressive performance in F2 this season hasn’t gone unnoticed. He currently sits 11th in the driver standings, with a podium finish (third place) in the Australian Sprint Race and a career-best qualifying result of second at Silverstone.
With his entry into the Alpine Academy, Maini gains access to the team’s state-of-the-art facilities at their Formula 1 base in Enstone, UK. He will also benefit from the guidance and expertise of the Alpine F1 team’s experienced personnel.
“I am super excited to be joining the Alpine Academy,” said Maini. “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.”
Alpine F1 Team Interim Sporting Director, Julian Rouse, echoed the sentiment, welcoming Maini to the program. “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.”
The Alpine Academy, established in 2016, is entering its ninth year in 2024. It currently encompasses nine drivers of eight nationalities competing across four racing series, ranging from FIA Formula 2 to European Karting. The program’s expansion coincides with the development of the AHPC, Alpine’s new state-of-the-art training and testing facility located in Enstone.
Maini’s successful F1 test and his inclusion in the Alpine Academy program signify a promising step forward in his motorsport journey. With continued development and strong performances, he might just find himself following in the footsteps of his successful Academy predecessors and graduate to the pinnacle of motorsport – Formula 1.