Kush Maini impressed during the F2 qualifying in Monza. The Indian driver carried his strong practice pace into qualifying and fought at the sharp end of the field. He set a 1:32.735 to grab provisional pole early on. Red flags disrupted the session, but Maini kept himself in the mix. When the final stoppage ended qualifying, he secured P3 on the grid, giving him a strong starting spot for the Feature Race. After Richard Verschoor lost his fastest lap time due to his crash that brought out the last red flag, Maini was subsequently promoted to P2 for the Feature Race.
Tyre management key as Monza degradation expected to increase
Maini felt relieved after qualifying at Monza. He admitted the last three months had been tough as he struggled with confidence in the car. The summer break gave him time to reset and “find [his] mojo again.” He showed strong speed from the first lap of Free Practice and stayed near the top throughout the session. In qualifying, he set a 1:32.735 to take provisional pole before being pushed back to third. Red flags cut the session short, but Maini proved he had the pace to fight at the front. He said it was “just nice to finally feel at home with the car again.”
“Yeah, I think in general after the break. I mean, it’s no secret, the last three months really we’ve been struggling a lot, just with confidence in the car. Yeah, at this level, when everything isn’t working, you just weigh down.”
“But we worked really hard through the break and I finally found my mojo again a bit. Especially in FP, already from lap 1, I think we were P1 for most of the session and every lap was really competitive. Quali, obviously we were P1, and then the red flag, and then Luke [Browning] did a great lap.”
“But yeah, like I said, even though it was cut short, every time we had the chance to deliver this weekend, we have. And it’s just nice to finally feel at home with the car again.”
Maini eyes strong finish after breakthrough qualifying at Monza
Maini signalled a return to form at Monza with a strong F2 qualifying performance. The Indian driver has endured an inconsistent season, highlighted by a sprint win in Monaco but no Feature Race podiums to date. He admitted that poor starting positions had limited his results, despite showing competitive pace over race distance in recent rounds. At Monza, Maini produced when it mattered, securing a top-three grid slot. He described the result as a relief and a platform to build on as he targets a stronger finish to the season.
“Yeah, I mean, I hope. F2 is strange, as you know. But I think this is our potential and this is where we want to be and deserve to be every weekend. And for some reason it hasn’t really clicked. But I’m happy to be back here in the front and hopefully we have two good races.”
“Yeah, honestly, actually, the race pace has been really good the last two or three rounds. It’s just we’ve been starting like 20th. So, especially in Budapest, it’s quite difficult to overtake. But the race pace there was probably one of the quickest. So, honestly, we’ve been really good in the races. Just that quality one lap pace really the last six rounds has been a real struggle for us. So, it’s nice to finally get that off my back and going into this weekend with two strong positions.”
Maini bounces back from recent setbacks
After a string of disappointing qualifying results, Maini has finally returned to the top three. He noted that his last top-three start dated back to Barcelona, admitting that his recent struggles had been confidence-shaking. As three flyaway rounds remain, Maini is determined to build on this newfound form and carry the momentum forward.
“Yeah, exactly. I mean, before this we had P3 in Barcelona, I think, as a quali. So that was a long time ago. And since then it’s been 20th and 20th and 20th. So yeah, as a driver it definitely knocks your confidence a bit.”
“You have one lap in quali and when you don’t feel confident in Turn 1 on the brakes, etc., it just carries on. So it’s just nice to finally feel normal, let’s say, this weekend. And yeah, hoping to keep this form till the end.”
Qualifying disruptions fail to shake Maini’s confidence at Monza
Maini admitted that the red-flag interruptions made qualifying tricky but said the team had planned for a normal session. He explained that at a circuit like Monza, the key is to be on track every lap rather than banking on alternative strategies.
“Yeah, I would go with 10 kilos of fuel, but it doesn’t work like that unfortunately. I would say you always plan for a normal session. And like I said, it’s important to be there every lap in a track like this. And I think that’s what we did this weekend. I would easily go back in time and put 10 kilos of fuel on the EVP1, but that’s unfortunately not how it works.”
When asked by Pit Debrief about the tyre compounds Pirelli have brought this weekend, Maini highlighted tyre management as a crucial factor. He felt confident, noting his race pace had been strong in recent rounds, and welcomed the sprint as a chance to gauge performance before the all-important Feature Race.
“I think it’s going to be interesting. Obviously, the normal rules apply, really. You try and take care of it and not slide, basically. We have a sprint race tomorrow, so at least we have a little bit of a look before the main race, the feature race for the three of us. I would say race pace has been good the last few rounds. I felt very strong, so it’s one of the things I’m confident with.”
At Monza, Maini highlights slipstream advantage and focus on fundamentals
Maini underlined the importance of the slipstream at Monza, admitting it can make the difference in qualifying. When Pit Debrief asked the top three whether they preferred benefitting from a tow or setting a lap in clean air, Maini explained that while a strong lap without a tow is usually good enough for the top seven or eight, securing a tow is definitely essential when fighting for pole.
“No, I think tow here is really important. Like I said, you can be safe and you can be in the top seven, eight without a tow if you do a really good lap, but in the end to get pole, you do need the tow as well. Definitely prioritising that.”
Maini said it felt good to be back fighting near the front at Monza after what he described as a long wait. While he acknowledged the importance of the teams’ championship, he stressed the need to focus on himself first. Maini explained that getting comfortable in the car again and going “back to the basics” was the key. With that foundation in place, he believed the results would follow naturally.
“Does that feel good? I think, in general, just being back here after a lifetime, really, feels good. Step by step, I think, obviously, the team championship is important. But first, I just need to get comfortable like I did today and just focus on the process, go back to the basics and just feel good again. Then, I’m sure, it’ll come.”
Tyre management key as Maini anticipates higher degradation at Monza
Maini admitted tyre management would be a key factor with Pirelli’s supersoft and soft compounds at Monza. He said the supersoft “never really lasts a lot” and requires careful handling, though he found the soft tyre performed well in practice. Looking ahead to the races, Maini expected more degradation than last year, with track temperatures and weather playing a decisive role. He explained that balancing the car and saving tyres when needed would be crucial, but believed there would be opportunities late in the race to make up positions.
“Obviously, the super soft never really lasts a lot. It’s a lot of management required. But in practice, the soft went quite well and didn’t feel too bad, actually. So, going into the race, I think, for sure, there’s going to be more deck than last year, but track temps and et cetera play a big role. So, it’s just going to depend. We’ll see how the weather is tomorrow, if the sun’s out.”
“Depending on that, check the balance out and then save what needs to be saved. But I think it’s just going to be a standard race where, for sure, having some potential for the end, you can gain a few places, for sure.”
