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Alpine F1 Team has officially signed Indian racer Kush Maini as their Test and Reserve Driver for the 2025 season. Maini, who has been a part of the Alpine Academy since October 2023, will expand his role within the team while continuing to compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with DAMS.
Maini’s Expanded Role with Alpine F1
Maini’s journey with Alpine began in late 2023, and he has since made significant strides in his racing career. Competing in the 2024 Formula 2 season, he achieved five podium finishes, including a notable race victory in Budapest. These impressive performances have earned him an expanded role within the Alpine F1 setup.
As he embarks on his third Formula 2 campaign, the 24-year-old driver will take on crucial responsibilities with the Alpine F1 team. His role as Test and Reserve Driver will see him contribute to the team’s development efforts through extensive simulator work at the squad’s Enstone base. Additionally, he will participate in the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, allowing him to gain valuable on-track experience and enhance his skills.
Maini’s appointment reflects Alpine’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent, and his dual role is expected to strengthen both his development as a driver and the team’s performance throughout the 2025 season.
“I am delighted to step up to the role of Test and Reserve Driver for BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team this season. Since joining the Alpine Academy ahead of last year, I have been incredibly welcomed in the entire Alpine family and I am thankful to Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] for their continued support,” said Kush Maini.
“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. I’m very excited to begin the role as soon as possible but for now my focus is on my third season in Formula 2 kicking off this weekend in Australia,” Kush added.
Julian Rouse, Alpine Academy Director also shared his views on Kush and said, “We are very happy to announce the expansion of Kush’s role in the Alpine Academy to include Test and Reserve Driver duties for the team this season. 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.”
“His wider role allows us to further expand our pool of driving talent who can provide support and resource to the whole team during the busy season,” he also added.
Kush Maini: A Rising Star in Motorsport
Born on September 22, 2000, in Bengaluru, India, Kush Maini has established himself as one of the country’s rising motorsport talents. Coming from a racing family, with his older brother Arjun Maini also having a strong motorsport background, Kush began his journey in karting before progressing through the junior single-seater ranks. He has competed in various championships, including the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and FIA Formula 3, before making his way into Formula 2. His adaptability and consistent performances have earned him recognition as a promising driver on the road to Formula 1.
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