Kush Maini became the first Indian driver in Formula 1 since 2012 as he joined Alpine as their reserve driver for the 2025 season, which makes him the only Alpine F1 reserve driver actively competing in the Formula 2 Championship, where he will be racing for Dams Lucas Oil. Maini’s inclusion marks the end of a 13-year hiatus for an Indian talent to be part of an F1 team. Maini successfully completed four tests with the Alpine F1 Team last season and strong performances this season could make him a potential contender for a full-time seat in 2026. The young Indian driver had an exceptional Formula 2 season last year where he secured five podium positions, with a standout victory in Hungary, playing a pivotal role in Invicta Racing’s Teams’ Championship victory for the 2024 F2 season. He also made history in Jeddah by becoming the first Indian driver to claim a pole position in Formula 2. “Being a reserve driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team is an incredible opportunity, and a moment of immense pride for me and my family as it’s been my dream to represent Tricolor in F1. This is a once in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust the team has placed in me. I’m excited to kickstart 2025 and continue this remarkable journey”, said Kush Maini. “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,” said Alpine Academy Director Julian Rouse. “Kush’s inclusion into the BWT Alpine F1 team for 2025 as a reserve and test driver is a big step forward not only for his journey but also for Motorsport in India. As his mentor, I’ve seen his dedication and talent firsthand, and this recognition was long due,” said Mika Hakkinen.