Indian Formula 2 driver Kush Maini faced a severe accident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday. Initially starting from fifth on the grid, Maini’s car failed to start properly, leaving it stationary on the track while other drivers navigated at high speeds to avoid a collision.
Despite attempts by several drivers to steer clear of Maini’s immobile car, it was eventually struck from behind by another racer, leading to a significant crash that resulted in several vehicles overturning. The incident led to an immediate red flag, halting the race.
Fortunately, Maini, along with other drivers involved in the crash, Spain’s Pepe Marti and Danish-German Oliver Goethe, escaped without injury. This was largely due to the enhanced safety measures in place in modern motorsport, which help protect drivers in such dangerous scenarios.
Following the crash-related interruption, the race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix resumed and concluded with Dutch driver Richard Verschoor securing the victory. Victor Martins and Andrea Kimi Antonelli rounded out the podium positions.
Maini, driving for Invicta Racing, had been hopeful for a strong performance in the feature race after qualifying in fifth place. However, his ambitions to gather points and recover from a disappointing sprint race the previous day were dashed by the accident.
In his second year in Formula 2, Maini is also a member of the Alpine F1 Team’s driver academy and is aiming for a reserve driver role with Alpine for the 2025 season. Despite a strong start to the 2024 season, Maini’s performance has dipped, placing him 11th in the Driver’s Championship standings. His teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, is currently leading the championship.
