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Kush Maini: My greatest influences
He’s made a stellar start to life in Formula 2 as a rookie, and it’s no wonder when some of his biggest influences starred as rookies also. Kush Maini is currently the highest-placed rookie in the F2 Drivers’ Standings after two rounds and is the latest to chat about those who have impacted him as a racing driver the most.
From one of the greatest of all time to a little bit of a Flying Finn-fluence, the Campos Racing driver details the impact some of F1’s biggest names have had on his career.
Ayrton Senna
“Just watching clips of him on YouTube, seeing how hard-working he was, whether it was training or on the track, the level he reached was as one of the greatest athletes of all time. He went through a lot of politics in the early days with Alain Prost at McLaren, seeing how he came out stronger – he never gave up and always kept fighting.
“I would say Senna was definitely up there for me. When he was at Toleman in his early years, that race he did at Monaco in the wet, that’s one that stands out to me the most. It was incredible what he did.”
Mika Häkkinen
“When I started watching F1 in the early 2000s, it was Häkkinen vs Schumacher. When you’re younger and you’re watching your heroes on TV, it sticks with you for the rest of your life. Häkkinen had an impact on me for the rest of my life. His move at Spa-Francorchamps on Schumacher and the backmarker, a mega move.
“When you’re watching that young, you don’t realise it at the time, but it sticks with you massively throughout your life. I remember watching that Spa race back so much and that move is one of the greatest ever to this day.”
Kimi Räikkönen
“I think it’s his attitude, it’s something different. He brought something different to F1. He didn’t really care, he just let his driving do the talking and he was so successful. So Räikkönen in terms of not caring what other people think of him.
“São Paulo, 2007 when he won the Championship with Ferrari sticks out to me in the memory. I remember watching that live, him winning it right at the end. I don’t remember what I was feeling in the moment but that year I will never forget for the rest of my life, it was awesome.”