Mentored by Mika Hakkinen will Kush Maini become India’s next Formula 1 driver?

Kush Maini is emerging as India's strongest Formula 1 prospect following a dominant Sprint Race victory in Barcelona and a Feature Race podium at Silverstone during the 2026 Formula 2 season. The ART Grand Prix driver, mentored by two-time F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen, also serves as Alpine's F1 reserve driver and holds a reserve role with Mahindra Racing in Formula E. No Indian driver has competed in Formula 1 since Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, making Maini the leading candidate to end that absence.