Despite the efforts of many drivers to bypass Maini’s immobilized car, it was eventually hit from the rear by another racer, causing a significant collision that resulted in multiple vehicles being overturned.
This incident prompted the immediate deployment of a red flag to halt the race.
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Remarkably, Maini, along with the other drivers directly involved in the crash – Pepe Marti from Spain and Oliver Goethe of Danish-German nationality – were not injured.
This outcome can be attributed to the advanced safety protocols and measures that have been progressively implemented in motorsport, ensuring the well-being of participants in such high-risk situations.
Maini, who is affiliated with Invicta Racing, had entered the feature race with optimistic prospects, having secured a commendable fifth place in the qualifying round.
His aspiration to amass points and recover from a less rewarding sprint race the day before was abruptly curtailed by the crash, culminating in a frustrating conclusion to his campaign in Azerbaijan.
In his second year competing in Formula 2, Maini is also part of the Alpine F1 Team‘s driver academy and is actively pursuing a reserve driver position with Alpine for the 2025 season.
Despite a promising onset to the 2024 season, Maini’s performance has seen a decline, positioning him 11th in the Driver’s Championship standings.
His teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, however, currently leads the championship. Following the interruption caused by the crash, the race resumed and concluded with Dutch racer Richard Verschoor clinching victory, followed by Victor Martins and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who completed the podium.
The rear of Maini’s car was extensively damaged, but he emerged from the incident unscathed. His father, Gautam Maini, reassured fans and media, stating, “He is doing okay. As part of the standard protocol, all medical check-ups were conducted on Kush, and all reports are normal.”
Despite his safety, the incident had repercussions for Maini. Following an investigation, the stewards penalized him with a 10-second time penalty for causing the collision.
According to a Formula 2 statement, “The driver of Car 9 had failed to engage the Start Set Up Procedure for the start of the race, an error that led to the car stalling on the grid causing the subsequent collision.” As Maini did not finish the race, the penalty was converted into a five-place grid penalty for his next race.
