By Kush Maini The First Indian Winner F2 Monaco
If you had told the 10-year-old me a kid from Bangalore playing F1 on the PlayStation and dreaming about Monaco that one day I’d be standing on the top step of the podium at Monaco, I probably would’ve laughed it off.
Because this? This wasn’t supposed to happen easily.
Motorsport in India isn’t a straight path. It’s not just about talent; it’s about surviving the grind, finding the funding, building the right network, and proving yourself over and over again in a sport that demands everything from you mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially.
 Kush Chasing Dream
I started karting like many kids do, but everything had to be fought for. Every race, every test, every opportunity. My family sacrificed a lot so I could be in the right places, against the right competition, at the right time. And even then, nothing came guaranteed.
Coming up through the junior formulas in Europe, you often feel like an outsider not just geographically, but culturally too. You’ve got to work twice as hard to earn the same respect. And I did. From F4 to Formula 3, and now in F2 I’ve taken the long road, learned the hard lessons.
This season started off tough. A new team with Dams, fresh challenges, things not clicking some of it out of our hands, some of it mistakes we owned. I’ll be honest there were moments where it was hard to keep the belief. But that’s when your grit is tested.
And then came Monaco. The race every driver dreams of.
Kush Maini Career
I qualified P10 for the Feature Race, which meant pole position for the reverse-grid Sprint. That was our shot. But the pressure? It’s something else. It’s 23 laps on a street circuit where a single mistake can end it all.
From lights out, Gabriele Mini was breathing down my neck. Every lap was about staying composed, not overdriving. And just when I was settling into rhythm, out came the Safety Car. Another challenge. But I nailed the restart I had to. There was no margin for error.
One of my brakes started fading during the race, and I was locking up into a few corners. That’s when experience kicks in. It wasn’t about being the fastest it was about being the smartest, the most consistent, and not giving the guy behind even a sniff of a chance.
The F2 Monaco Win
When I finally crossed the line, 3.7 seconds ahead, it hit me: I’d won in Monaco. My first win with Dams. My first in 2025. And the first ever for an Indian at this track.
That moment was for everyone who stood by me my family, my team, the fans back home who believe in Indian motorsport. For every young Indian kid dreaming on a sim, wondering if it’s possible I’m here to say it is.
Yes, this was just the Sprint Race. The big one is still ahead. But for me, this win is more than points it’s a turning point. It’s the beginning of our real season.
We’re not done yet.
Kush Maini Makes History
Monaco, May 24, 2025Â Indian driver Kush Maini secured a landmark win at the Formula 2 Monaco Sprint Race, becoming the first Indian ever to win an F2 race. Driving for DAMS Lucas Oil, Maini converted his reverse-grid pole position into a flawless lights-to-flag victory, holding off intense pressure from fellow Alpine Academy driver Gabriele Mini to take the chequered flag 3.705 seconds ahead.
The win marks Maini’s first of the 2025 season and his first with new team DAMS, coming after a challenging start to the year. Despite struggles with front brake locking and car setup, Maini delivered a composed drive, especially after a mid-race Safety Car triggered by Joshua Duerksen’s retirement on Lap 12.
Maini’s performance at the iconic Monaco street circuit not only boosts his confidence but also moves him up to 13th in the championship standings, 54 points behind leader Alexander Dunne.
“This is the Sprint Race, yes, but winning in Monaco is special,” Maini said post-race. “As a kid from India playing F1 on PlayStation, this moment means everything.”
Maini is set to start P10 in Sunday’s Feature Race, aiming to carry forward the momentum as he reclaims ground in the title fight.
2025 F2 Monaco Sprint Race Top 3:
Kush Maini (DAMS)
Gabriele Mini (Prema Racing)
Luke Browning (Hitech TGR)Â
This victory is a significant milestone not just for Maini, but for Indian motorsport history.
