Mika Hakkinen, the two-time Formula One World Champion, has thrown his weight behind Indian driver Kush Maini, his mentee since the start of the year, believing he has the potential to race in Formula One. Hakkinen, who inaugurated the Madras International Karting Arena (MIKA) recently, expressed confidence that Maini could become the third Indian F1 driver after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
“Kush Maini has a karting background, and he’s still young. He’s developing and becoming a great racing driver,” said Hakkinen, who has a history of mentoring successful drivers, including Valtteri Bottas, who achieved numerous victories with Mercedes.
However, Maini’s journey has been marred by inconsistency. While he has secured five podium finishes this season in Formula 2, including a sprint race win in Budapest, he has also experienced setbacks, most notably a terrifying incident at the Baku street circuit. This incident involved a collision after Maini failed to get his car moving at the start, causing a chain reaction that caught his fellow drivers off guard.
Despite his improved performance compared to the previous year, where he only achieved one podium finish, the 23-year-old hasn’t consistently demonstrated his true potential. This has raised concern for Hakkinen, who feels it’s an area that needs attention. “It (2024 season) could have been better. There have been situations where it is unknown why the performance disappeared, from his speed,” Hakkinen observed. “I understand if a driver starts losing one or two tenths and then he can work on it. But in his case, it was sometimes one or two seconds. That, in racing, is not acceptable. But the race goes on,” he added, expressing hope that Maini can overcome this inconsistency and achieve greater results in the future.
The pressure is on for Maini to capitalize on his talent and demonstrate the kind of consistency that can lead to a coveted Formula One seat. Hakkinen’s guidance will be crucial as Maini navigates this pivotal period in his racing career.
