Kush Maini kept Arthur Leclerc at bay to secure his first-ever FIA Formula 2 podium. This is the Indian racer’s rookie season in the championship, following a 14th place finish in Formula 3 last year.

Dennis Hauger won the sprint race in Australia, ahead of Jak Crawford, with Maini rounding out the podium.

1. Hauger wins ahead of Crawford and Maini
2. Maini will start feature race from P8
3. Daruvala finished 17th

Maini third in F2 Australia sprint race

F2’s first outing in Melbourne took place in mixed conditions, leaving drivers to battle it out on a drying track. Eighth place in qualifying handed Maini a third place starting position on the reverse grid.

Mercedes Test

The race start was delayed after Enzo Fittipaldi and Ralph Boschung spun out on the reconnaissance lap. Maini also spun, but recovered to make it to his grid spot. Once the race got underway, he held on to third place. However, Arthur Leclerc was gaining on him and even nudged past Maini at Turn 10 on Lap 7, but the Indian driver regained the place in the next corner.

A late-race Safety Car resulted in a two-lap sprint to the chequered flag, and Maini held his ground to finish third.

Hauger ended up taking a lights-to-flag victory, becoming the fifth F2 race winner this year, in just as many races. Crawford was second, making it two rookies on the podium.

“It’s a great feeling. We’ve been so close since the start of the year, in the top eight in every qualifying, knocking on the podium’s door,” said Maini, who will start Sunday’s feature race from eighth on the grid. “Today was a really tough race because the tow down the back straight was crazy, so you were never really safe. But I’m so happy with how it turned out and happy to get my first podium.”

Jehan Daruvala P17 in Australia sprint race

Daruvala headed to Australia with two back-to-back podium finishes in Saudi Arabia. However, he was unable to replicate that form in Melbourne. After starting 12th on the grid, he ended up finishing 17th following a late pit stop for wet tyres.

He still has another chance to score some valuable points in the feature race. Fans in India can watch the race live on F1 TV Pro at 7:05am on Sunday.

F2 Australia sprint race results