Austria : BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver Kush Maini has completed two days of Formula 1 testing at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, covering approximately 200 laps and 850 kilometres across both days of testing. It marks his latest outing in F1 machinery, following an earlier test at Zandvoort.
Driving a TPC (Testing Previous Car) car on the opening day – an older-generation chassis used to simulate 2026-spec downforce levels, Maini completed 82 laps through mixed conditions, running wet, intermediate and soft tyres as a wet morning session gave way to a drier evening.
Kush continued his TPC programme on day 2 in the 2025-spec car, the same specification he tested at the official Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi last December, and completed over 500 kilometres of running in dry conditions.
The two-day test comes during the F2 Summer break. Maini will be back in action in Monza next. He is currently sixth in the FIA Formula 2 drivers’ standings at the back of two podium finishes in his last three races. This form has put him within reach of the best-ever finish by an Indian driver in the category, and the F1 test will be just another confidence booster for the young Indian driver.
The event makes up part of the young driver testing programme, which Kush participates in throughout the year as a member of the Alpine Academy.
Kush Maini, BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver, said: “Always unreal to get behind a F1 car, no matter how many times it’s been. We maximized the run plan and gained loads of mileage and experience. I’m hoping the data & performance from this test helps the team move forward in their championship campaign in 2026. Massive thanks to BWT Alpine F1 team for yet another F1 testing opportunity and I am really looking forward to resuming my F2 championship challenge in Monza.”
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