Kush Maini logs 850km in Alpine F1 test at Red Bull Ring before Monza F2 return
Synopsis
Kush Maini racked up 850 kilometres across two days in Alpine F1 machinery at the Red Bull Ring — more mileage than many reserve drivers see in a year. Sitting sixth in the F2 standings with two podiums in his last three races, Maini heads to Monza with both momentum and rare F1 data behind him, keeping alive the prospect of the best-ever F2 championship finish by an Indian driver.
Key Takeaways
Kush Maini completed a two-day F1 test with BWT Alpine F1 Team at the Red Bull Ring , Austria on 29 August .
He covered approximately 200 laps and 850 kilometres in total, including 500+ km on day two alone.
Day one used a TPC machine across wet, intermediate, and soft tyres; day two featured a 2025-specification car .
Maini currently sits sixth in the FIA Formula 2 Drivers' Championship with two podiums in his last three races.
He returns to F2 competitive action at Monza following the summer break.
Indian motorsport talent Kush Maini completed a two-day Formula 1 testing programme with the BWT Alpine F1 Team at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 29 August, covering approximately 200 laps and 850 kilometres in a significant mileage haul ahead of his return to FIA Formula 2 competition at Monza. The outing reinforces Maini's standing within the Alpine Academy and adds to a growing bank of F1 experience for the BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver.
How the Two Days Unfolded
Maini opened the programme in a TPC (Testing Previous Car) machine, completing 82 laps on day one in shifting weather conditions. He cycled through wet, intermediate, and soft tyres as a damp morning gradually cleared into drier running. The second day brought a step up in machinery — a 2025-specification car, the same model he piloted during the official Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi last December. With dry conditions enabling uninterrupted running, Maini covered more than 500 kilometres on day two alone, accounting for the bulk of his total mileage.
What Maini Said
Speaking after the test, Maini said: 'Always unreal to get behind a F1 car, no matter how many times it's been. We maximised the run plan and gained loads of mileage and experience. I'm hoping the data and performance from this test helps the team move forward in their championship campaign in 2026. Massive thanks to BWT Alpine F1 team for yet another F1 testing opportunity and I am really looking forward to resuming my F2 championship challenge in Monza.'
Where Maini Stands in the F2 Championship
The timing of the test is notable. Maini currently sits sixth in the FIA Formula 2 Drivers' Championship, having claimed two podium finishes in his last three races before the summer break. That run of form has kept him firmly in contention for what could be the best-ever championship finish by an Indian driver in the category. This latest test at the Red Bull Ring follows an earlier F1 outing at Zandvoort, underlining Alpine's sustained investment in Maini's development.
The Bigger Picture for Indian Motorsport
Maini's consistent presence in F1 testing machinery — and his competitive F2 position — places him among the most credible Indian candidates for a future grand prix seat in recent memory. Notably, this is the second F1 test Maini has completed in the current cycle, and his mileage across Alpine's young driver programme is accumulating at a pace that few Indian drivers have managed before. With the Monza F2 round now on the horizon, the data and confidence gathered in Austria could prove decisive in a tight championship battle.
Point of View
Now in 2025-spec machinery — is not routine reserve-driver courtesy. It signals that the team sees genuine value in his feedback loop, which matters as Alpine rebuilds its 2026 campaign. For Indian motorsport, the more consequential number is not the 850 kilometres but the sixth-place F2 standing: if Maini can convert that into a top-four finish at season's end, it would reset the ceiling for Indian drivers in feeder series and sharpen the case for a race seat conversation. The risk is that F1 test euphoria distracts from the F2 grind — Monza will be the real measure.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kush Maini do in the Alpine F1 test at the Red Bull Ring?
Kush Maini completed a two-day Formula 1 testing programme with the BWT Alpine F1 Team at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, covering approximately 200 laps and 850 kilometres. He drove a TPC machine on day one and a 2025-specification car on day two.
Where does Kush Maini stand in the 2026 FIA Formula 2 championship?
Maini currently sits sixth in the FIA Formula 2 Drivers' Championship after securing two podium finishes in his last three races before the summer break. He is in contention for the best-ever championship finish by an Indian driver in the category.
When and where does Kush Maini return to F2 racing?
Maini returns to FIA Formula 2 competitive action at Monza following the summer break. The Monza round is the next stop on the F2 calendar after the recess.
What is Kush Maini's role with the BWT Alpine F1 Team?
Kush Maini serves as the BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver and is a member of the Alpine Academy. The Red Bull Ring test is part of Alpine's young driver development programme, following an earlier outing at Zandvoort.
How does this F1 test compare to Maini's previous Alpine outings?
The Red Bull Ring test follows an earlier Alpine F1 test at Zandvoort and a Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi last December, where Maini also drove the 2025-specification car. The cumulative mileage across these sessions represents one of the most extensive F1 testing programmes undertaken by an Indian driver.
