A glorious hopeful day for Indians all over, as Kush Maini, a 23-year-old racer from Bengaluru, was called up to test the BWT Alpine F1 car in the 2024 season.
Maini, took to social media platform X, where the Bangalorean expressed his joy after a successful test with the racing team.
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! @AlpineF1Team pic.twitter.com/MypYPBroLn— Kush Maini (@kmainiofficial) June 6, 2024
“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!” wrote Maini on his post.
As a development driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team, Maini will work alongside drivers like Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
His role will involve working extensively on the team’s simulator, analysing data alongside established drivers such as Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, and testing the team’s F1 car.
Kush joined the growing Alpine Academy line-up which currently features drivers such as Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver Jack Doohan and 2022 FIA Formula 3 Champion Victor Martins, and has a host of successful graduates including current Formula 1 drivers Zhou Guanyu and Oscar Piastri, and Olli Caldwell who currently competes for Alpine Elf Endurance Team.
In this year’s F2 season, Maini looked to have made a fast start to 2024 when he qualified on pole at the season-opener in Sakhir before a technical infringement relegated him to the back of the grid.
At the next round in Jeddah, Maini was promoted up to pole position after Oliver Bearman withdrew from the race weekend, with the Indian driver then finishing second in the Feature Race.
He also finished third in the Melbourne Sprint Race after qualifying in P4 and heads into Europe fifth in the Drivers’ Championship with 33 points – 29 points off leader Zane Maloney.
Maini’s test follows the news of Alpine deciding to part ways with racer Esteban Ocon at the end of the 2024 season.
Alpine boss Bruno Famin has been considering the options for his 2025 driver line-up in recent months and the French manufacturer has decided not to renew Ocon’s contract.