Indian rookie Kush Maini will complete MP Motorsport’s team for 2022, with the Dutch squad announcing that the 21-year-old will link up with Caio Collet and Alex Smolyar for the new campaign.

Maini – the younger brother of former Formula 2 driver Arjun Maini – began his single-seater career in 2016, racing in Italian Formula 4. He continued in the series for 2017, where he finished eighth.

He switched to BRDC British Formula 3 the following year and placed third with eight podiums and one win, before stepping up to Formula Renault Eurocup. Ending the year in sixth, Maini returned to BRDC British F3 in 2020, finishing as vice-champion, with 12 podiums and three wins.

The 21-year-old began 2021 in Asian F3, partnering F2 racer Jehan Daruvala at Mumbai Falcons. He also made his FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 debut last season, competing in 6 Hours of Bahrain.

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Maini made his FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 debut last season competing in 6 Hours of Bahrain.
Maini made his FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 debut last season, competing in 6 Hours of Bahrain.

“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-ten.

"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.”