The Formula 1 2024-25 season is slated to start in the next few days. All the teams have finalised their driver lineups. Now, Alpine F1 team has announced Indian driver Kush Maini as their reserve drive for the upcoming season. The youngster was promoted to the role of reserve driver as he continues to march ahead in the Formula 2 category.
Back in 2023, the 24-year old Kush Maini joined Alpine as a part of their driver academy. He is now joined by Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa as the reserve driver for the French team.
Kush Maini. 2025 Test and Reserve Driver
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) March 11, 2025
We’re delighted to announce, our Alpine Academy driver extends his role to join our pool of Test and Reserve Drivers for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/SA4GVQVc4B
Indian youngster reserve driver in Formula 1
“Maini’s duties will involve offering valuable support to the team’s car development and set-up objectives using the driver-in-loop simulator at Enstone, as well as participating in its TPC (testing of previous cars) Programme aimed at improving skills at the wheel of a contemporary, modern Formula One car,” said Alpine in a statement.
The generic trend has been each team has 2 drivers and 1 reserve driver who can fill in of one of the two main drivers is unable to take part in a race weekend. But now in the recent past, teams have added more drivers to their reserve pool. Maini will be the 4th reserve driver for the Alpine team this season.
So far only 2 Indian drivers had made it to Formual 1 – Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandok. Kush Maini now has a chance to impress and probably get a seat at the biggest pinnacle of racing sports.
“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 and Oliver for their continued support. I am looking forward to getting more track time in Formula One 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,” said Maini.
