Kush Maini denied maiden Formula 2 pole after disqualification
Kush Maini’s celebrations over his maiden FIA Formula 2 pole position were cut short on Thursday night in Bahrain after the Invicta Racing driver was disqualified from the qualifying results.
Kush Maini celebrates his pole position on Thursday in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Maini’s car was found to be in breach of the category’s technical regulation, with the “left undertray front external strake” was below the minimum required height at the conclusion of the session.
The part was found to be 6.1mm lower than the minimum height, exceeding the maximum tolerance of 5mm and resulting in disqualification.
The infringement was due to damage from a kerb strike, according to a statement from the team.
“This did not improve the performance of the car,” said a team spokesperson.
“The team now shifts focus to maximising results with both cars for the remainder of the weekend.”
Invicta argued that the part itself was not damaged, but a part of the underbody which the strake is measured against.
Maini had scored his first ever pole on his final attempt with a lap of 1:41.696, with his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto following him across the line but two-tenths behind him on the time sheet.
The Indian driver will now start both Saturday’s sprint race and Sunday’s feature race from the back of the grid, with Bortoleto promoted to pole position.
DAMS Lucas Oil driver Jak Crawford will start the sprint race on reverse gride pole after Maini’s penalty moved him to 10th in the qualifying order.
“There was a lot of pressure but I think we had great pace throughout the session,” said Maini after qualifying.
“Just so happy to start the new relationship with the team and the new year in such a great way.”
“Everything clicked. Car felt great so I can’t take all the glory, they put a great car under me.
“It really clicked during the lap and no real mistakes so just a lap I am really happy with.”
The 23-year-old, who enjoyed a successful debut season in 2023 that yielded 62 points but only 11th in the championship standings, celebrated with his engineer over the radio.
“My name is Jeff!” he joked.
“I told him that when I get my first pole I’m going to say that,” he explained after the session.
“You have these days, every single thing clicks and this was one of them.
“This is just the first race and there’s a long way to go, so we’re not going to try and fly away with this result, but we keep our foot on the floor and keep pushing.”
The FIA Formula 2 sprint race is underway at 1.15am Saturday (AEDT) with the feature race at 9.30pm.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 2 season on Kayo Sports.
