In a major announcement, Alpine, Formula One’s team based in Enstone, has shared that Kush Maini, a driver from their Alpine Academy, will be joining the squad as part of their Test and Reserve Drivers lineup for the upcoming 2025 season.
In this new role, Maini will be instrumental in aiding the team’s car development and refining setup goals using the state-of-the-art driver-in-loop simulator at Enstone. He’ll also be involved in their TPC Programme, which is designed to hone driving skills in the latest Formula One cars.
Maini, a 24-year-old racer from Karnataka, India, signed up with the Alpine Academy back in October 2023. Since then, he’s been competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where he has achieved five podium finishes, including a notable win in Hungary.
For the 2025 season, Maini will continue to race in Formula 2, representing the DAMS team. The excitement kicks off this weekend in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix, as part of the Formula One support schedule.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the new role, Maini said, “Stepping up to be the Test and Reserve Driver for the BWT Alpine Formula One Team is a thrilling opportunity. The warm welcome I’ve received from the Alpine family since joining the academy last year has been incredible, and I extend my gratitude to Flavio and Oliver for their unwavering support. In this role, I am eager to gain more experience with Formula One machinery, building on my knowledge from 2024. But for now, my eyes are set on my third Formula 2 season, starting this weekend in Australia.”
Julian Rouse, director of Alpine Academy, also shared his thoughts on this development, saying, “We’re thrilled to expand Kush’s responsibilities to include Test and Reserve Driver tasks this season. Kush has truly impressed us with his performances in the TPC and his results in Formula 2. We anticipate more of the same in 2025. His expanded role allows us to enhance our talent pool, offering crucial support and resources to the team throughout our hectic schedule.”
