Four F2 Seasons, No F1 Seat: Why Maini Is Staying Close To Alpine

Kush Maini is refusing to give up on his Formula 1 ambitions despite missing out on a race seat, insisting he has not lost hope of reaching the grid as he extends his association with Alpine until 2027.

The 26-year-old Indian will move on from Formula 2 after his fourth season, but his continued involvement with Alpine in a yet-to-be-confirmed role will keep him connected to the F1 team through simulator work and testing opportunities.

With Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto retained for the upcoming season, Maini has no immediate route to a race seat but believes his relationship with Alpine could keep him in contention for a future opportunity.

His determination marks a different approach from that of fellow Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, who stepped away from competitive racing in 2025 after failing to secure an F1 seat following four seasons in Formula 2.

Kush Maini: 'I wouldn't say I've lost all hope'

Maini acknowledged the difficulty of pursuing a Formula 1 seat without a clear timeline for promotion, but said his ambitions remained intact.

"It's tough, but it's life. But I wouldn't say I've lost all hope at all," Maini told PTI on the sidelines of the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Indian driver believes Alpine understands his capabilities and the work he has put in over the past three years. He joined the team's academy in 2023 before becoming a reserve driver for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Maini said his testing outings and simulator work had gone well, helping him establish a strong relationship with the team.

"I'm still going to stay on with the team, so you never know what the future brings. I'm sure when I have the opportunity, if I do, I can perform, and they know that as well," he said.

Although Alpine has yet to confirm the exact nature of his role beyond the current arrangement, Maini expects to remain involved with the team next year.

Why Kush Maini has not given up on Formula 1

For Maini, staying within the Alpine setup offers a way to remain prepared for a potential opportunity rather than stepping away from the F1 ecosystem altogether.

He believes the team's testing and simulator programme will help him maintain his readiness should circumstances create an opening on the grid.

"They give me enough testing and opportunities and they've been very good to me and they keep me sharp that if one day I need to jump in the car I'll be ready," he said.

Maini is also a reserve driver for Mahindra Racing in Formula E, although the Indian outfit's driver line-up for the following season has already been decided, limiting his immediate options there as well.

His next competitive move remains under discussion, but he has made it clear that his association with Alpine will continue even as he moves on from Formula 2.

Kush Maini's F1 chances: Why an Alpine seat remains out of reach for now

Alpine's decision to retain Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto means Maini will not have a race seat with the team in the upcoming season.

The Bengaluru-born driver is currently ninth in the Formula 2 standings with 90 points in his fourth and final campaign in the championship. Despite the experience gained across four seasons, he has not secured the promotion to Formula 1 that he has been working towards.

His continued presence at Alpine keeps him connected to the team, but a development or reserve role does not guarantee a future race seat. Any opportunity would depend on the team's requirements and the availability of a position.

For now, Maini's strategy is to remain involved, continue his work behind the scenes and be ready if an opening emerges.

Jehan Daruvala took a different route after missing out on F1

Maini's determination to keep pursuing Formula 1 also brings into focus the different paths taken by Indian drivers who have struggled to secure a place on the grid.

Jehan Daruvala spent four seasons in Formula 2, earning multiple race wins and podium finishes before moving to Formula E with Maserati MSG Racing for the 2023-24 season.

However, he finished 21st in the Formula E standings with eight points, and Maserati replaced him for the following campaign. In March 2025, Daruvala announced a sabbatical from competitive racing, citing "many circumstances" and describing it as his first season without competing in a championship in 15 years.

Daruvala's decision put his racing career on hold, although he expressed hope of returning to the sport in the future.

Maini, meanwhile, is choosing to maintain his connection to Formula 1 through Alpine, even without a confirmed race seat. The two situations are not directly comparable, but they underline the uncertainty facing drivers who reach the final stages of the junior single-seater ladder without securing a place in F1.

India's Formula 1 wait continues

Only two Indian drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, have competed in Formula 1.

Maini's continued association with Alpine offers a potential route to keeping India's hopes of another F1 driver alive, but the immediate challenge remains securing a competitive opportunity after Formula 2.

For now, he is unwilling to treat the absence of a race seat as the end of his ambitions. His next steps on the racing side remain undecided, but his message is clear: he intends to stay close to Alpine and be ready if his chance arrives.