Kush Maini topples title contenders to top Baku Practice
Kush Maini displayed commanding form during the opening practice session of Round 12, securing the top spot in Baku for ART Grand Prix. The Indian driver demonstrated consistent pace from the outset, ultimately finding the necessary improvement on his final flying lap to set the benchmark.
Maini's Charge to P1
Maini took an early lead as the field grappled with a relatively green track surface. Despite the challenging conditions, he managed to push the limits, recording a final lap of 1:56.532 to edge out the field. This performance placed him ahead of key championship contenders, including Alexander Dunne and Nikola Tsolov.
The session was not without interruptions. A Virtual Safety Car was deployed 15 minutes into the session after Joshua Duerksen ran wide at Turn 3. Oliver Goethe also faced difficulties, running deep at Turn 5 and leaving both drivers sidelined and unable to rejoin the circuit. As the track conditions improved, the battle for supremacy intensified.
While Martinius Stenshorne and Rodin Motorsport's Alexander Dunne briefly held the lead, Maini remained a constant threat. Dunne, who had set a competitive 1:56.736, was narrowly beaten by Maini's final effort. This high-stakes environment is a hallmark of the Formula 2, Baku bracing for high stakes: new format and title fight intensify atmosphere currently surrounding this round.
Closing Order and Looking Ahead
The final standings saw Maini leading a competitive pack, with Dunne finishing just 0.2s behind in second. Championship leader Nikola Tsolov and Colton Herta rounded out the top four, while Gabriele MinĂŹ secured fifth.
The top 10 was completed by:
- Rafael CĂąmara
- Laurens van Hoepen
- Martinius Stenshorne
- Ritomo Miyata
- Mari Boya
The focus now shifts to the high-pressure Qualifying double-header scheduled for Thursday. The first session will commence at 14:00 local time to determine the grids for the Sprint and Feature Race 1, followed by the second session at 14:30 for the Feature Race 2 grid.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.