Kush Maini Finishes Second at Hungaroring After VSC Denies Feature Race Victory

Hungaroring, Hungary, July 26, 2026: Indian racer Kush Maini delivered his strongest weekend of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship, finishing second in the Feature Race at the Hungaroring on Sunday to claim his third podium of the season. Despite a dominant performance, an untimely Virtual Safety Car (VSC) intervention denied Maini what looked set to be a memorable victory.

Maini returned to one of his most successful Formula 2 venues in impressive fashion by securing pole position during Friday's qualifying session, setting the tone for a highly competitive weekend.

Strong Recovery in Sprint Race

Due to the reverse-grid format used for Saturday's Sprint Race, Maini started from 10th on the grid despite his pole position. He made an excellent start, gaining five places during the race to finish fifth and collect four valuable championship points.

VSC Alters Outcome of Dominant Feature Race

Starting from pole position in Sunday's Feature Race, Maini made a flawless getaway and quickly established control at the front of the field. By the time the mandatory pit window approached, he had built a commanding lead of five seconds over the chasing pack.

However, the race took a dramatic turn when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed at an unfortunate moment. The timing of the VSC compromised Maini's strategic advantage during the pit cycle and cost him crucial track position, halting what had been a commanding drive toward victory.

Undeterred by the setback, Maini mounted a determined fightback to reclaim second place and remained within striking distance of the race leader until the chequered flag, crossing the finish line just 0.8 seconds behind the winner.

Maini Reflects on Hungaroring Performance

"Sometimes you can do everything right, but not get the biggest trophy. But I'm very satisfied with the way we worked and performed over the weekend. We fight for the big trophy when we're back in Monza. Thanks to the team for an amazing car throughout the weekend and to JK Tyres and TVS Racing for all the support in this journey," said Maini after the race.

Best Weekend of the Season

Maini also recorded the fastest lap of the Feature Race, adding another valuable point to his tally. Combined with his second-place finish, he earned 19 points on Sunday and finished the Hungaroring weekend with a total of 25 championship points.

The result marks Maini's most successful race weekend of the 2026 Formula 2 season and strengthens his position in the Drivers' Championship heading into the summer break.

Focus Shifts to Monza

Maini heads into the summer break sitting sixth in the FIA Formula 2 Drivers' Championship, just outside the top four. With momentum firmly on his side, the Indian driver will now turn his attention to Monza, where he will aim to continue his strong run of form when the championship resumes.

 

(Inputs from Press Release)