Maini targeting top three in GP3 championship

Maini grabbed headlines earlier in May when he signed a development driver deal with Haas F1 team. The announcement was followed by the Jenzer driver’s first win in GP3, which turned him into an overnight star in India.

Having taken part in an official test and carefully assessed the state of the championship since, the 19-year-old has now set himself a definitive target for the rest of the season.

“It has started to go really, really well this year,” Maini told reporters after his homecoming in Bangalore.

“We are third in the championship in GP3 and that’s how we want to continue. Be in the top three in the GP3 championship. That’s what I’m looking forward to for this year.”

‘Better prepared than Karthikeyan and Chandhok’

Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok remain the only two Indian drivers to have reached Formula 1 till date, but neither of them went through professional karting due to lack of racing infrastructure in the country.

Not only has Maini competed in competitive karting championships across India and Europe, he’s also had access to better training facilities.

This has brought the former BRDC British F4 runner-up to come to a conclusion that he’s better prepared than Karthikeyan and Chandhok, which could only be a good news for Indian motorsport.

“I think I’m in very very lucky in the position right now,” he said. “I’m very grateful for everything and the superb support like I said from JK Tyre from a young age, from TVS. now with Haas F1 team.

“And of course my family support has been incredible from the beginning. So i’ve been lucky. And support from Karun as well.

“All the directions are pointing in the right way and I’m much more prepared than let’s say Karun and Narain were at this time. So it’s looking good.”