India’s Kush Maini became first Indian to win Formula 2 race in Budapest, Hungary.
Kush Maini get his maiden Formula 2 race win at Hungarian GP after initial sprint race winner Richard Verschoor was disqualified. So far the season, this is the Indian’s fifth podium so far this season: he presently time stands eight overall in the championship, just three points behind Dennis Hauger.
A post-race report by the FIA Technical Delegate, the FIA said on Saturday that the plank on car 22 had a maximum thickness 3.7mm at the most rewarded scrutineering hole, below the minimum specified thickness in the 2024 FIA Formula Technical Regulations. It was determined that the plank fitted to Verschoor’s car was indeed below the minimum thickness required, therefore breaching Article 3.4.3 of the Technical Regulations, and car 22 was thus disqualified from the Sprint Race classification.
Earlier, Verschoor claimed a well-earned victory at the Budapest Sprint Race, putting in a performance after losing the lead early on to claim his fourth win in Formula 2 race. The Dutch drivers was able to pull away from Kush Maini at the end on his way to the top step, with the Invicta Racing driver crossing the line in second ahead of Art Grands Prix’s Victor Martins in third.
Maini was remained in the second position as he started on th front row with pole-sitter Verschoor. Andrea Kimi Verschoor for P2, with Martins just behind on his softs. After that, Maini had also created a gap of over two seconds to Martins, who was now defending from Dennis Hunger in the battle for Positions 4.
On the lap 13, Hadjar used DRS to get ahead of Bortoleto for P7, while Hauger had dropped back from Martin and back to P6 behind Fittipaldi. Verschoor was now right on the back of Antonelli as they started Lap 16.
By the Final lap, Vershoor had built a two-second gap out front and crossed the line to take his fourth formula victory ahead of Maini, with Martins taking as the final spot on the podium. Hadjar ended up in P4 ahead of Hauger & Colapinto with Aron making his way to P7 as Barnard rounded out in P8.
Maini said on his victory- “I would have like to take the flight to take 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”.