Kush Maini Scores Maiden F2 Victory at Hungarian GP

Kush Maini achieved his first-ever Formula 2 win at the Hungarian Grand Prix after Richard Verschoor, the original sprint race winner, was disqualified due to a technical infringement. This victory marks Maini’s fifth podium of the season, placing him eighth in the championship standings, just three points behind Dennis Hauger.

Race Overview

The sprint race at the Hungarian GP featured varying tyre strategies due to cooler temperatures. Maini, starting from P2 on hard tyres, maintained his position into Turn 1. Kimi Antonelli, on softer tyres, briefly moved into second place after Turn 2. However, Antonelli’s tyre advantage diminished, and on Lap 16, after a lock-up, Antonelli ran wide, allowing Verschoor to take the lead with Maini close behind. Despite Maini’s efforts, he finished in second place.

Post-Race Developments

Several hours after the race, it was announced that Verschoor was disqualified. The FIA’s technical investigation revealed that the plank on Verschoor’s car was below the minimum thickness required by the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Technical Regulations, specifically Article 3.4.3. This technical breach led to Verschoor’s disqualification, promoting Maini to the top position and securing his maiden F2 victory.

Driver’s Reaction

Maini expressed his excitement about the win: “That was a really exciting race with the pace of the guys on softs looking really good early on. Thankfully, the race came back to us towards the second half and from there, it was just about keeping your head. I would’ve liked to take the fight to take the win on the road, but if you don’t have a tyre advantage it’s really tricky to make a move in Hungary. Still, getting my first F2 victory is a special moment in my career.”