Indian racer Kush Maini will make the step up to FIA Formula 3 (F3) this year and has signed with MP Motorsport for his debut season.

The F3 championship is an F1 feeder series, giving young drivers a clear pathway to the pinnacle of motorsport.

• Maini previously competed in British F3 and F3 Asia
• 2022 F3 season kicks off on March 20 at Bahrain

Kush Maini to make FIA F3 debut

Maini has notable experience racing in regional F3 championships. He finished second overall in the 2020 British F3 championship and went on to compete in the 2021 F3 Asian Championship for Mumbai Falcons. The 21-year-old, backed by JK Tyre, will drive alongside Alexander Smolyar and Caio Collet at MP Motorsport.

“I’m excited to join MP Motorsport for my first year in FIA F3”, said Maini. “In 2021, MP proved to be race winners and in the final standings, they were the only FIA F3 team to have two rookies finish in the top 10. This shows their ability to coach rookie drivers on their way to immediately performing well in the series. I can’t wait to get going for pre-season testing and the first round at Bahrain!”

MP Motorsport team principal Sander Dorsman added: “I’m pleased to welcome Kush to our FIA F3 team. In the past few years, Kush has proved himself extremely well at regional F3 levels, now it’s time for him to step up to FIA F3. I’m sure he will mix well with Alex and Caio, and we will do our best to help him shine during each of the nine-race weekends coming up in the championship.”

The 2022 F3 season will run as a support series for F1, with races set to be held on the same weekends.

Kush Maini racing career

After climbing up the karting ladder, Maini made his single-seaters debut in 2016, taking his first podium in the Italian F4 Championship. He then made the move to British F3 in 2019, finishing third overall that year. 2019 saw him switch to the Formula Renault Eurocup series (where he finished sixth), but he returned to British F3 in 2020, this time finishing as runners up.

After competing in the 2021 F3 Asian Championship alongside Jehan Daruvala, he also made his World Endurance Championship debut last year at the 6 Hours of Bahrain.

Of course, racing runs in the Maini family. Kush’s older brother is none other than Arjun Maini, who just recently signed with Mercedes-AMG backed team HRT for his second season in the DTM.