Two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen is lending his support to Indian Formula 2 driver Kush Maini with the objective of helping the young hopeful reach F1.
“F1 is our objective,” said the Finn who supported in the past countryman Valtteri Bottas’ endeavor to join motorsport’s elite.
During his formative years in the sport, Maini progressed through the junior ranks but without ever winning a championship, although he was runner-up in the 2020 British Formula 3 Championship.
Maini, whose brother Arjun competed for two seasons in F2 and was also a development driver for Haas, stepped up stepped to F3 last year and claimed a single podium on his way to 14th in the championship.
This year, the 23-year-old enjoyed a relatively strong start to his campaign in F2 with Campos Racing, but his performances have gradually waned, and he currently sits P12 in the feeder series’ standings.
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Nevertheless, under Hakkinen’s management and mentorship, Maini is convinced that he can grow his skills and compete in the upper tier of the field next season.
“I think from next year, my approach and that of my team is going to be a lot more structured thanks to Mika," said Maini, quoted by Motorsport.com
“Having a trainer who's looking after your nutrition at the track, a mind coach looking after anything you're going through on a race weekend.
“Basically the way Mika works is you narrow down everything to the point where the driver just has one job.”
“I've watched Mika since I was young. And I know everything he has achieved in this sport," he added.
“So just for him to believe that I could reach Formula One shows that we've done something right in these last 15 years.
“It’s a massive weapon you have in your arsenal when you have Mika Hakkinen standing behind you!”
Hakkinen is relying on his previous experience of guiding Bottas through his formative years in the sport and into F1.
“I have a lot of experience from working with Valtteri Bottas seeing him developing and growing as a driver,” said the former McLaren driver.
“More recently I’ve been following Kush, understanding his abilities, his talent for driving. It’s a very interesting journey together to develop, to be an even more professional racing driver. F1 is our objective, not forgetting the current situation (in F2).
Hakkinen says his primary role will be to help Maini build his personal foundation as a racing driver, counseling the young gun in how to manage his time and communications. This will be done in collaboration with Guillaume le Goff, who also looks after Alpine F1 driver Pierre Gasly.
In his role, Hakkinen will fully exploit the communication and network assets that he has acquired over the course of his career and post-F1 career in the sport.
“These assets are very powerful when looking after a young talented driver,” he added.
“I've been an ambassador for Formula One and been part of F1 since 1991. It's an asset, the power that I have to take this young driver into the right places at the right time.
“Of course, India is an enormous, powerful country. I’m part of bringing a young driver from India to Formula One, bringing these mega companies, learning to understand the opportunities that Formula One can bring them.
“And vice versa, of course, what Formula One can experience and create with India. I can only see beautiful success stories.
“India is going to be very powerful. And I want all Indians to know Kush Maini, I want everybody in India cheering him. I want them to feel that he's going to be a winner in Formula One.
“Of course it requires very hard work and a lot of sacrifices. Because of my experience in this motor racing world, I do understand (the importance of) timing, being in the right team, having the right partners, working with the right people is crucial.”
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