ART Grand Prix, the French Formula 2 team renowned for shaping future Formula 1 talent, has signed Indian driver Kush Maini for the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship. The agreement places Maini inside one of the most competitive development environments in global single-seater racing and represents a major step in his climb toward Formula 1.
The deal gives Maini a full-time 2026 race seat supported by ART’s technical, simulator, and performance departments. He will join the team’s engineering group in Paris and take part in their full preparation programme, including the 2025 post-season test and the team’s winter run plan. ART believes Maini’s experience and consistency make him well-suited to deliver results in their system.
Commenting on the occasion, Maini said, “I’m very happy to be joining such a historic team like ART Grand Prix. My first contacts with the engineers and mechanics have been very positive. I appreciate the determination and the human atmosphere within the team, and I can’t wait to start working with them and see what we can achieve together.”
ART Grand Prix Team Principal Sébastien Philippe added, “Kush has shown real speed and maturity in Formula 2, and his win in Monaco is a clear example of his potential. We are happy to welcome him to ART Grand Prix and look forward to working together in 2026.”
Since its founding in 2005, ART Grand Prix has built one of the strongest driver development records in junior motorsport. The team has helped shape the careers of Alexander Albon, Théo Pourchaire, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hülkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, Nico Rosberg, Esteban Ocon, and Charles Leclerc across its F2, GP2, GP3, and Formula 3 programmes. The team’s track record continues to make it a prime destination for drivers targeting a pathway into F1.
Maini will enter the 2026 season for his fourth year in Formula 2, having taken two wins and seven podiums across his previous campaigns. Before stepping into F2, he finished 14th in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship with one podium and was runner-up in the 2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship.
His move to ART Grand Prix is seen as a pivotal moment in his development. A competitive year with the French outfit would strengthen his position among drivers under close consideration for future F1 opportunities, especially as teams increasingly rely on F2 performance data and development benchmarks.
Maini’s signing comes during an active phase in the F2 driver market, with teams preparing for new technical regulations and a global calendar that continues to expand.
