Monza F4: Maini claims top five finish in rookie standings

The Indian started the final weekend with 16th and 14th in the two practice sessions, before a career-best fourth in Qualifying 1 and 13th in Qualifying 2.

His run in the first race was short lived though, after he was hit at the start. On the same lap in the next few corners he lost his front wing and went straight into the gravels.

Up ahead, Prema's Mick Schumacher had a storming start and took victory from Jenzer's Marcos Siebert and DR Formula's Raul Guzman - the latter two having started the race from 11th and 10th respectively.

Top 10 finish in Race 2

Maini's fortunes turned to good in the second race as he found himself running eighth on Lap 4, having started from 13th.

The BVM Racing driver was then in a race long battle with Cram Motorsport's Leonard Hoogenboom, with the two exchanging places until the chequered flag.

Towards the end, Mucke Motorsport's Ye Yifei joined the fight as both Hoongenboom and Yifei pushed Maini to ninth, but the Indian had the last laugh overtaking both on the final lap to end seventh overall and fourth best rookie.

Meanwhile, debutant Sebastian Fernandez (Mucke Motorsport) won the race from Guzman and Prema's Juri Vips.

Retirement in Race 3

For the final race of the season, the JK Tyre-backed driver started from fourth and was running in the top five until Lap 5.

On the sixth lap, Maini was forced to retire from the race, as Vips went on to win the 11-lap race from Fernandez and Schumacher.

At the end of the season, Siebert took the title from Schumacher, while Maini ended 16th overall with 53 points and a lone podium finish.

Whereas in the rookie standings, Vips finished on top with 247.5 points, as Maini rounded off the top five gathering 182 points, which included seven rostrum finishes.