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Arjun Maini
Arjun Maini
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Arjun Maini (born 10 December 1997)[1] is an Indian professional racing driver, currently competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and in the GT World Challenge Europe for Haupt Racing Team.[2][3] He is currently a Ford Factory driver.[4] He was the winner of Force India's 'One in a Billion' driver hunt in 2011.[5]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Maini comes from a family of racers. His brother Kush is also a racer competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with DAMS Lucas Oil, and his father, Gautam, raced in the National Racing Championship in the late 1990s, at the Formula India Single Seater Maruti Engine.[6][7] The teenager first fell in love with motorsport when his father gave him an electric car. Maini received his first go-kart, an 80cc Comer Kart at the age of 5.

Maini's uncle Chetan Maini is an Indian business magnate best known for building India's first electric car, REVA,[8] and as the Founder of Reva Electric Car Company Ltd, now Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited, where he served as an advisor.[9]

Maini idolises Sebastian Vettel and in his free time enjoys wrestling, cycling, fitness activities and video editing.[10]

Junior career

[edit]

Karting

[edit]

Maini received his first go-kart, an 80cc Comer Kart, at the age of 5. At the young age of 8, Maini won his first two championships, the MRF Mini Max Championship in both the Rotax class and the 4-stroke Cadet class in his first year of racing. After his first titles, Maini raced on foreign soil for the first time in the Asia Max championship, which led to immediate success.[11] In 2008, Maini became the youngest Indian to win a kart race abroad by winning the Malaysian Royal Kelatan Kart Prix held in 2008.[6]

Maini was the youngest driver to take part in the J.K. Tyre Rotax Max Junior Max National championship at the age of 11. He was selected by the Red Rooster Racing Team in 2009.[11] He then took part in the Rotax Max Challenge India - Junior in 2010 and finished in 2nd place, with the highest number of fastest laps.[12] Maini's major breakthrough came in 2011 where he won the J.K.Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship title in the Junior Max category and followed this up by becoming the Sahara Force India team's One from a Billion winner. He was also the winner of AKOC race in Macau as well as the Ask KF3 Race in Elite, Malaysia. He finished second overall in the AKS Malaysian Championship 2011.[11][12]

In his penultimate year of karting, Maini finished a creditable fifth in the ROK Cup International Final in Junior ROK category. Maini was awarded the best rookie at Rowrah while racing in the MSA British Karting Championship. He also finished in second place in Junior category in the Indonesia Kart Prix 2012 along with first place in the Junior max category in Rotax Invitational Karting Race held at Kuala Lumpur.[11]

Lower formulas

[edit]

Maini then stepped up into cars in 2013. He finished runner up in the J.K.Tyre Racing Series championship, winning two races at the Buddh International Circuit as well as winning the Malaysian Super 6 Series. He also competed in the WSK Euro and Master karting in the KF category.[11]

In 2014, Maini then went on to compete in the BRDC Formula 4 championship; finishing second overall and missing out on the championship by 3 points to teammate George Russell. He finished the championship with 8 wins and 9 podium finishes. He was also the highest ranked Indian driver in the Driver Database [10]

Maini at the GP3 race at the 2017 Belgian GP

At the beginning of 2015, Maini showed remarkable pace in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand en route to a 4th overall in the championship with two wins, five podiums and 3 poles. He also finished 4th overall in Race 2 of the Pau Grand Prix. However, a learning year in the FIA European Formula 3 series meant he could only manage 18th overall and 9th in the rookie class. Maini did manage to end the season on a high, finishing 10th at the Macau Grand Prix.[13]

GP3 Series

[edit]

2016

[edit]
Arjun Maini with the Russian Time team at the Abu Dhabi F2 post season test
Maini with the Russian Time team at the Abu Dhabi F2 post season test

In 2016, Maini raced for Jenzer Motorsport in the GP3 series, he finished the season in 10th position in the championship despite missing the first 4 races. He also became the first Indian to secure a podium in the GP3 series at Hungaroring, after finishing 2nd.[14] Maini also raced in the Macau GP for Team Motopark.

2017

[edit]

Maini signed for Jenzer again in 2017, for his second stint in the GP3 Series. He scored two podiums, including a victory in the sprint race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and ended up 9th in the championship, two positions behind teammate Alessio Lorandi.

FIA Formula 2 Championship

[edit]

At the end of 2017, Maini took part in a post season test in Abu Dhabi with F2 teams Trident and Russian Time.[15]

2018

[edit]

Maini signed for Trident Racing in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship, partnering with fellow Haas F1 Team development driver Santino Ferrucci.

While driving in a race at Circuit Paul Ricard, Maini said over the radio that the car lacked power and tearfully claimed people didn't believe him and didn't support him, and that Formula 2 was not providing good equipment.[16][17] The Trident team analyzed data and agreed and approached F2, and Maini was given a new engine shortly after.[18]

Later that season, teammate Ferrucci ran Maini off the track in a race at Silverstone Circuit and then crashed into the back of Maini's car later in the same race after the checkered flag had been waved, both of which were found to be deliberate actions, and Trident apologized to Maini.[19] Ferrucci also "appeared to mock" Maini on Twitter over Maini's rant about the car's power.[20]

Ferrucci was banned for several races and was fired by Trident shortly thereafter, due to these incidents and others.[21][22]

2019

[edit]
Maini with Campos Racing at the 2019 Spielberg Formula 2 round, replacing Dorian Boccolacci

Maini replaced Dorian Boccolacci at Campos Racing in the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship at Spielberg. He raced in six races, scoring no points, before being replaced by Marino Sato.

Formula One

[edit]

In May 2017, it was announced that the Haas F1 Team signed Maini as a development driver.[23] He remained in his role throughout 2018.[24]

Endurance racing

[edit]

Maini changed from single seaters to Endurance racing in the European Le Mans Series with RLR M SPORT. He also competed in the prestigious 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as competing in the Asian Le Mans Series where he won the first race at Shanghai International Circuit.

DTM

[edit]
Maini in his No. 36 Team HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo at the Oschersleben in 2023

In 2021, Maini joined the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters driving for Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed. He picked up his first podium finish in the series at the Norisring. This was also the first podium finish by an Indian in the history of the series. He switched to Mercedes-AMG Haupt Racing Team for the 2022 season, achieving two 4th-place finishes. He stayed with the team for 2023.

Karting record

[edit]

Karting career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Position
2010 Rotax Max Challenge India — Junior 2nd
2011 ROK Cup International Final — Junior ROK 19th
National Rotax Max Championship India — Junior 1st
Asian Karting Open Championship — Formula 125 Junior Open 8th
2012 Trofeo delle Industrie — KF3 Baby Race NC
ROK Cup International Final — Junior ROK 5th
CIK-FIA Academy Trophy 38th
2013 WSK Super Master SeriesKFJ 41st
Trofeo Andrea Margutti — KFJ 17th

Racing record

[edit]

Racing career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2013 AsiaCup Series Meritus.GP 12 0 ? 1 4 108 4th
JK Racing India Series EuroInternational 12 2 4 3 10 198 2nd
2014 BRDC Formula 4 Championship Lanan Racing 24 4 0 6 9 480 2nd
2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Van Amersfoort Racing 33 0 0 0 0 27 18th
Macau Grand Prix T-Sport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th
Toyota Racing Series M2 Competition 16 2 3 2 5 732 4th
2016 GP3 Series Jenzer Motorsport 14 0 0 0 1 50 10th
FIA Formula 3 European Championship Threebond with T-Sport 12 0 0 0 0 3 21st
2017 GP3 Series Jenzer Motorsport 15 1 0 1 2 69 9th
Formula One Haas F1 Team Development driver
2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship Trident 23 0 0 0 0 24 16th
Formula One Haas F1 Team Development driver
2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship Campos Racing 6 0 0 0 0 0 24th
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 RLR MSport 6 0 0 0 0 5.5 21st
Macau Grand Prix Jenzer Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 23rd
2019–20 Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 RLR MSport 2 1 1 2 1 26 5th
2020 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Algarve Pro Racing 2 0 0 0 0 8 22nd
2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Mercedes-AMG Team Getspeed 15 0 0 0 1 48 12th
Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 Racing Team India 4 0 0 0 0 42 6th
2022 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Mercedes-AMG Team HRT 15 0 0 0 0 24 19th
Asian Le Mans Series - GT Bilstein Haupt Racing Team 4 0 0 0 0 16 9th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Haupt Racing Team 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Gold 0 0 0 2 56 5th
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - V6 Team Mathol Racing e.V. 0 0 1 0 0 0 NC†
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - VT3 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2023 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Mercedes-AMG Team HRT 16 0 0 0 0 30 20th
Asian Le Mans Series - GT Haupt Racing Team 4 0 0 0 0 6 15th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Bronze Cup 1 0 0 3 89 2nd
ADAC GT Masters 4 0 1 0 1 41 13th
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein by HRT 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 8th
2024 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Mercedes-AMG Team HRT 16 0 1 0 3 139 7th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Haupt Racing Team 5 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Gold Cup 5 1 0 0 4 95 3rd
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein by HRT 2 0 0 0 0 * *
Team ADVAN x HRT 2 0 0 1 1
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein by HRT 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 12 18th
Haupt Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0
Triple Eight JMR 1 0 0 0 0
GT World Challenge America - Pro-Am Triple Eight JMR 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2025 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters HRT Ford Performance 16 0 0 0 0 62 15th
Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 5 0 0 0 0 8 20th

Complete BRDC Formula 4 Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2014 Lanan Racing SIL1
1

8
SIL1
2

11
SIL1
3

2
BRH1
1

2
BRH1
2

4
BRH1
3

4
SNE1
1

8
SNE1
2

1
SNE1
3

4
OUL
1

7
OUL
2

1
OUL
3

Ret
SIL2
1

3
SIL2
2

8
SIL2
3

4
BRH2
1

3
BRH2
2

2
BRH2
3

1
DON
1

4
DON
2

4
DON
3

1
SNE2
1

8
SNE2
2

5
SNE2
3

5
2nd 480

Complete Toyota Racing Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points
2015 M2 Competition RUA
1

2
RUA
2

6
RUA
3

2
TER
1

9
TER
2

7
TER
3

4
HMP
1

1
HMP
2

16
HMP
3

4
TAU
1

12
TAU
2

14
TAU
3

4
TAU
4

1
MAN
1

2
MAN
2

17
MAN
3

14
4th 750

Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 DC Points
2015 Van Amersfoort Racing Volkswagen SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

14
SIL
3

16
HOC
1

15
HOC
2

Ret
HOC
3

13
PAU
1

12
PAU
2

4
PAU
3

5
MNZ
1

10
MNZ
2

20
MNZ
3

20
SPA
1

17
SPA
2

23
SPA
3

16
NOR
1

Ret
NOR
2

14
NOR
3

17
ZAN
1

13
ZAN
2

15
ZAN
3

17
RBR
1

21
RBR
2

15
RBR
3

22
ALG
1

28
ALG
2

24
ALG
3

16
NÜR
1

8
NÜR
2

12
NÜR
3

16
HOC
1

29
HOC
2

14
HOC
3

17
18th 27
2016 Threebond with T-Sport Threebond LEC
1

Ret
LEC
2

13
LEC
3

16
21st 3
NBE HUN
1

14
HUN
2

15
HUN
3

15
PAU
1

18
PAU
2

10
PAU
3

9
RBR
1

Ret
RBR
2

Ret
RBR
3

18
NOR
1
NOR
2
NOR
3
ZAN
1
ZAN
2
ZAN
3
SPA
1
SPA
2
SPA
3
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
NÜR
3
IMO
1
IMO
2
IMO
3
HOC
1
HOC
2
HOC
3

Complete GP3 Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
2016 Jenzer Motorsport CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
RBR
FEA
RBR
SPR
SIL
FEA

8
SIL
SPR

19
HUN
FEA

8
HUN
SPR

2
HOC
FEA

7
HOC
SPR

5
SPA
FEA

Ret
SPA
SPR

16
MNZ
FEA

14
MNZ
SPR

6
SEP
FEA

4
SEP
SPR

7
YMC
FEA

14
YMC
SPR

14
10th 50
2017 Jenzer Motorsport CAT
FEA

7
CAT
SPR

1
RBR
FEA

10
RBR
SPR

16
SIL
FEA

6
SIL
SPR

5
HUN
FEA

Ret
HUN
SPR

8
SPA
FEA

4
SPA
SPR

6
MNZ
FEA

16†
MNZ
SPR

C
JER
FEA

17
JER
SPR

12
YMC
FEA

3
YMC
SPR

6
9th 72

Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2018 Trident BHR
FEA

15
BHR
SPR

14
BAK
FEA

Ret
BAK
SPR

5
CAT
FEA

Ret
CAT
SPR

13
MON
FEA

5
MON
SPR

5
LEC
FEA

10
LEC
SPR

13
RBR
FEA

14
RBR
SPR

10
SIL
FEA

14
SIL
SPR

13
HUN
FEA

12
HUN
SPR

14
SPA
FEA

14
SPA
SPR

8
MNZ
FEA

Ret
MNZ
SPR

9
SOC
FEA

15
SOC
SPR

15
YMC
FEA

Ret
YMC
SPR

DNS
16th 24
2019 Campos Racing BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
BAK
FEA
BAK
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
LEC
FEA
LEC
SPR
RBR
SPR

DSQ
RBR
SPR

15
SIL
FEA

13
SIL
SPR

13
HUN
FEA

Ret
HUN
SPR

16
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SOC
FEA
SOC
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
24th 0

Complete European Le Mans Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2019 RLR MSport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
8
MNZ
Ret
CAT
13
SIL
Ret
SPA
14
ALG
15
21st 5.5
2020 Algarve Pro Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC SPA LEC MNZ
8
ALG
8
22nd 8

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2019 United Kingdom RLR M Sport/Tower Events Canada John Farano
France Norman Nato
Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 295 NC NC

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2021 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo MNZ
1

13
MNZ
2

Ret
LAU
1

Ret
LAU
2

12
ZOL
1

Ret
ZOL
2

DNS
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

13
RBR
1

6
RBR
2

7
ASS
1

Ret
ASS
2

13
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

8
NOR
1

2
NOR
2

6
12th 48
2022 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo ALG
1

17
ALG
2

13
LAU
1

4
LAU
2

13
IMO
1

16
IMO
2

18
NOR
1

Ret
NOR
2

14
NÜR
1

15
NÜR
2

14
SPA
1

14
SPA
2

11
RBR
1

13
RBR
2

4
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
19th 24
2023 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo OSC
1

Ret
OSC
2

15
ZAN
1

17
ZAN
2

17
NOR
1

13
NOR
2

15
NÜR
1

16
NÜR
2

DSQ
LAU
1

Ret
LAU
2

14
SAC
1

13
SAC
2

7
RBR
1

14
RBR
2

10
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

13
20th 30
2024 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo OSC
1

83
OSC
2

4
LAU
1

7
LAU
2

12
ZAN
1

33
ZAN
2

6
NOR
1

15
NOR
2

4
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

Ret
SAC
1

5
SAC
2

Ret
RBR
1

31
RBR
2

3
HOC
1

8
HOC
2

13
7th 139
2025 HRT Ford Performance Ford Mustang GT3 OSC
1

15
OSC
2

16
LAU
1

12
LAU
2

17
ZAN
1

Ret
ZAN
2

10
NOR
1

8
NOR
2

5
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

6
SAC
1

20
SAC
2

Ret
RBR
1

11
RBR
2

5
HOC
1

14
HOC
2

13
15th 62

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results

[edit]
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Points
2022 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Gold IMO
23
LEC
Ret
SPA
6H

19
SPA
12H

31†
SPA
24H

Ret
HOC
17
CAT
36
5th 56
2023 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Bronze MNZ
18
LEC
14
SPA
6H

36
SPA
12H

34
SPA
24H

24
NÜR
24
CAT
25
2nd 89
2024 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Gold LEC
47
SPA
6H

47
SPA
12H

40
SPA
24H

17
NÜR
19
MNZ
22
JED
19
3rd 95

* Season still in progress.

Complete Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie results

[edit]
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pos. Points
2022 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo SP9 NLS1 NLS2 NLS3 NLS4 NLS5
6
NLS6 NLS7 NLS8
DNS
NLS9 NC† 0
2023 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo SP9 NLS1
11
NLS2
16
NLS3 NLS4 NLS5 NLS6 NLS7 NLS8 NLS9
9
NC† 0
2024 Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein by HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo SP9 NLS1 NLS2 24H-Q1
13
24H-Q2
14
NLS3 NLS4 NLS5 NLS6 * *
Team Advan x HRT NLS1 NLS2 24H-Q1 24H-Q2 NLS3
3
NLS4 NLS5 NLS6 * *

As Maini was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

Complete ADAC GT Masters results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points
2023 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo HOC
1

6
HOC
2

21
NOR
1
NOR
2
NÜR
1

12
NÜR
2

12
SAC
1
SAC
2
RBR
1
RBR
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
13th 41

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Arjun Maini (born 10 December 1997) is an Indian professional driver from Bangalore, currently competing in the (DTM) for HRT Ford Performance and in the powered by AWS for the same team, driving a GT3. Maini hails from a prominent family, with his father Umesh Maini and younger brother —currently a Formula 2 driver—also active in . His career began in karting in 2007, where he quickly showed promise by winning multiple national and international events before transitioning to single-seater in 2013. In his junior formula career, Maini competed in the FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship, winning the title in 2013, and progressed to European series such as the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps. He advanced to the with the Prema Powerteam in 2017, securing podium finishes, and entered FIA Formula 2 in 2018 as a driver for , later joining in 2019. During this period, he served as a development driver for the from 2017 to 2018, gaining exposure to Formula 1 operations. Transitioning to prototype and GT racing, Maini debuted in the (ELMS) in 2019 with RLR in the LMP2 class before shifting focus to touring cars. He made history as the first Indian driver in the DTM, joining Team Get Speed in 2021 and achieving consistent top-10 finishes across four seasons, including an eighth-place championship result in 2024. In parallel, he has excelled in GT3 events, competing in the and the CrowdStrike since 2023, often with Haupt Racing Team. For the 2025 season, Maini switched to Ford as a factory driver, partnering with Motorsports for his DTM and GT commitments.

Early life

Family and background

Arjun Maini was born on 10 December 1997 in Bangalore, India. He grew up in a prominent business family with deep roots in engineering and manufacturing. Maini's father, Gautam Maini, is a former racing driver who competed in the Indian National single-seater championship in the early 1990s and now serves as the managing director of Maini Precision Products, a key division of the Maini Group specializing in precision components for the automotive and aerospace sectors. The Maini Group, founded by Maini's grandfather S.K. Maini, has long been involved in high-precision engineering, providing the family with substantial resources and connections in the automotive industry that facilitated early exposure to motorsport. Gautam Maini actively supported his sons' racing ambitions by introducing them to go-karting and analyzing their performances, drawing from his own experience on the track. Maini's younger brother, , is also a professional racing driver, currently competing in Formula 2, which underscores the family's strong heritage. Raised in a racing-oriented household in Bangalore, Arjun benefited from this environment, including access to local karting facilities and familial guidance that nurtured his passion for the sport from a young age.

Introduction to racing

Arjun Maini first encountered at the age of five, when he received his initial , an 80cc Comer model, sparking his interest in . Born and raised in Bangalore, , he began regular training sessions at local karting facilities, honing fundamental driving techniques through weekend outings that built his enthusiasm for speed and competition. This early exposure was heavily influenced by his family's longstanding connection to automobiles and racing, with local tracks serving as the primary venue for his initial development. His father, Gautam Maini, a former Formula 3 racer and businessman, played a pivotal role in facilitating these beginnings by providing financial backing and logistical assistance for equipment and track access. This support enabled Arjun to focus on skill-building without immediate competitive pressures, fostering a deep passion that transitioned him toward structured karting activities. Through consistent practice, he developed core abilities like vehicle control and racecraft, laying the groundwork for his future in the .

Junior career

Karting

Arjun Maini began karting in in 2006 through introductory training sessions organized by JK Tyre in Bangalore using karts. His competitive career started the following year in 2007, when, at the age of nine, he won the National Championship, dominating the series by securing victories in all five races of the MRF Mini Max Challenge across events in , , and . This triumph marked him as a standout junior talent in the Indian karting scene, where he continued to compete in national series like the , achieving second place in the Junior category in 2010. Maini's domestic dominance peaked in 2011 with a in the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Championship in the Junior Max category, alongside a win in the Invitational Karting Race in . That same year, his performance earned him selection through Sahara Force India's "One from a Billion" driver hunt, providing backing for international competition and signaling his transition toward global karting circuits. In 2012, Maini expanded to European karting, racing in the MSA British Karting Championship with Force India support, where he was awarded Best Rookie at the Rowrah circuit. He also competed internationally in the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, finishing 38th overall with points scored in , and participated in the WSK Master Series, logging competitive heats in the KF3 category at events like Sarno. These outings included a second-place finish in the Junior category of the Karting Championship, highlighting his adaptability on varied international tracks. By 2013, Maini had progressed toward senior-level karting while balancing early single-seater tests, competing in the WSK Super Master Series in the Junior category and securing points finishes, such as 14th overall at the round. This period solidified his experience in high-stakes European events, including further rounds of the CIK-FIA and WSK series, before his full shift to in 2013.

Early single-seaters

In 2013, Maini made his single-seater debut in the Talent Cup , where he won the Super Six category with three victories and 19 podiums across 30 races. Maini progressed to European open-wheel racing in 2014, competing in the BRDC Championship for Lanan Racing. The 16-year-old Indian driver demonstrated strong pace from the outset, securing multiple podiums and ultimately finishing runner-up in the standings with 480 points across 24 races. His debut season highlighted his adaptability, though he faced initial hurdles in mastering the higher speeds and of formula cars compared to karts. In early 2015, Maini competed in the Toyota Racing Series in with M2 Competition, where he achieved consistent results in the competitive field. He secured two victories—his first at Teretonga Circuit in the opening round and another at Hampton Downs—along with five podiums, culminating in fourth place overall with 732 points from 15 races. This performance built on his F4 experience, but challenges included adjusting to the series' demanding schedule and variable track conditions, which tested his endurance during back-to-back race weekends. Later that year, Maini stepped up to the with , a significant progression that introduced greater technical complexity. Over 33 races, he scored 27 points, primarily from strong finishes in select rounds such as seventh place at and points-paying positions at Spa-Francorchamps and the , ending 18th in the championship. Adapting to single-seaters proved challenging, particularly in building the required for sustained high-g cornering and braking, as well as navigating within a larger, more professional outfit. He also participated in the with T-Sport under ThreeBond sponsorship, finishing 10th in a field of international talent. These early campaigns solidified his reputation as a promising talent while underscoring the steep of open-wheel progression.

Formula racing

GP3 Series

Arjun Maini made his debut in the GP3 Series in 2016 with Jenzer Motorsport, joining the championship midway through the season after competing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Despite missing the first four rounds, he adapted quickly to the Dallara GP3/16 chassis, which featured enhanced safety standards aligned with Formula 1 regulations and a new 3.4-litre Mecachrome V6 engine producing around 400 horsepower. Maini scored points in his debut weekend at Silverstone with an eighth-place finish in the feature race, followed by consistent top-10 results that culminated in his best performance—a second-place in the sprint race at the Hungaroring, where he started from reverse-grid pole after an eighth in the feature and held off pressure to secure the podium. He ended the season 10th in the drivers' standings with 50 points from 14 races, demonstrating resilience against established rivals like Charles Leclerc and Alexander Albon. In 2017, Maini returned for a full campaign with Jenzer Motorsport, building on his prior experience in lower single-seater categories to target greater consistency in the competitive field. The season proved challenging due to the intense rivalry with ART Grand Prix drivers, particularly George Russell, who dominated with four wins en route to the title, often pressuring Maini in wheel-to-wheel battles at tracks like Spa-Francorchamps. A highlight came early at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Maini claimed his maiden GP3 victory in the sprint race just days after being announced as a Haas F1 Team development driver; starting from reverse-grid fourth, he capitalized on strategic tire management and overtakes to lead home ahead of teammate Alessio Lorandi. Further points came from strong qualifying sessions, though sprint race reversals sometimes hindered feature race momentum. Maini's 2017 campaign included another podium with third place in the sprint race at Yas Marina, where he advanced from sixth on the reversed grid through aggressive early-lap moves and maintained position amid tire degradation issues common to the GP3/16's setup. These results contributed to a ninth-place finish with 69 points, including one win and two s, though he trailed Lorandi by 20 points due to occasional mechanical setbacks and qualifying inconsistencies. The GP3/16's demanding handling, with its low-drag aerodynamics and high cornering speeds exceeding 280 km/h, tested drivers' adaptability, particularly in sprint races where starting positions from the top eight in the feature race reversed the order, favoring bold strategies. Overall, Maini's two seasons in GP3 highlighted his progression from a mid-season newcomer to a podium contender, setting the stage for his move to higher formulas.

FIA Formula 2 Championship

Arjun Maini entered the in 2018 as a rookie with , having qualified through his prior success in the where he secured a race victory. The season marked the debut of the new chassis, which introduced a turbocharged 3.4-litre and the halo cockpit protection device for enhanced safety. Maini adapted to these changes amid widespread reliability concerns with the car, including clutch and engine issues that affected starts and overall performance; he publicly criticized the problems as "killing our careers" after a frustrating event at . Maini's 2018 campaign began strongly with the fastest time in the opening practice session at , edging out by 0.051 seconds in the first competitive outing for the new machinery. However, consistency proved challenging, with his best results being sixth-place finishes in sprint races at . Key setbacks included a collision with teammate during the Silverstone sprint race cooldown lap, leading to Ferrucci's disqualification and subsequent four-race ban for unsportsmanlike conduct. Despite these incidents, Maini accumulated 24 points over 23 races, finishing 16th in the drivers' standings. In 2019, Maini returned to the series midway through the season with , replacing from the Austrian round onward due to the latter's funding issues. He contested three rounds alongside , but faced ongoing adaptation struggles with the car and persistent technical woes, including a disqualification from the Austrian feature race for a fuel rig infringement. Maini's season yielded no points, hampered by retirements and lower-grid starts, resulting in a 24th-place championship finish. The lack of consistency ultimately shifted his focus toward endurance racing thereafter.

Formula One involvement

Arjun Maini joined the as a development driver in May 2017, becoming the first Indian driver to hold such a position in . In this role, he worked alongside American driver , focusing primarily on off-track contributions to the team's preparation and development efforts. Maini's responsibilities included extensive simulator sessions at the team's facility, where he provided feedback on car setup and performance simulations to aid the engineering team. This involvement was intended to build his technical understanding of cars while supporting Haas's ongoing development, particularly as he progressed through junior formulae like GP3 and later Formula 2. Maini continued in the development driver role into the season, attending races and conducting further simulator work to refine his skills and contribute to Haas's aerodynamic and setup evaluations. His performance in the that year, where he raced for as a Haas junior, was seen as a key pathway to potential opportunities, though no on-track testing in an F1 car was granted due to his relative inexperience and team priorities. Sponsorship from entities like United Breweries and support from the Haas junior program provided financial and logistical backing, but despite these affiliations, Maini did not secure a race seat or reserve driver position. Reflecting on his Formula One aspirations, Maini has emphasized that consistent results in feeder series are essential for advancing to the top tier, stating in interviews that winning remains the most direct route to an F1 opportunity. However, following the conclusion of his Formula 2 campaign in 2018 and the end of his formal ties with Haas ahead of , Maini shifted focus to sportscar racing, pursuing endurance events as a means to sustain his professional career while keeping open-wheel ambitions alive. This transition marked a pragmatic pivot, allowing him to gain experience in GT and prototype categories without the intense pressure of 's superlicence pathway.

Sportscar career

Endurance racing

Following his time in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Arjun Maini transitioned to endurance racing in 2019, debuting in the LMP2 class of the with RLR and making his first start at the that year. In 2020, Maini competed in four races in the LMP2 category with Algarve Pro Racing, finishing 22nd in the drivers' championship standings with 8 points. His season highlighted his adaptation to prototype machinery and multi-driver stints. Maini was slated to compete at the in 2021 with Racing Team India in LMP2, but the entry was withdrawn due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions affecting the Indian drivers. He continued in endurance formats that year through the with the same team, where he secured a victory in the opening race at , building experience in long-distance fuel and tire management critical to events like . From 2022 onward, Maini switched to GT3 machinery with Haupt Racing Team (HRT), focusing on the Endurance Cup. In the Bronze Cup class, he achieved strong results, including second place overall in the 2023 drivers' standings with 77 points alongside teammates Hubert Haupt and Sebastian Baud. The 2024 season saw him compete in the Pro Cup with HRT, demonstrating effective strategies in multi-hour races such as optimizing pit stops for fuel efficiency during the . This move from prototypes to GT cars involved adapting to balance-oriented driving and class-specific endurance tactics, with team switches like joining HRT enabling competitive campaigns in Europe's premier GT endurance series.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Arjun Maini made his debut in the in 2023 with the Haupt Racing Team, driving the . Competing in a partial season of 14 races, he accumulated 30 points, securing consistent finishes including a best of seventh place at , which placed him 20th in the drivers' standings. In 2024, Maini contested a full season with , marking a significant step forward in his adaptation to GT3 sprint racing regulations, which emphasize adjustments among manufacturers like Mercedes, , and Ferrari. His prior experience in endurance GT events facilitated a smoother transition to the series' demanding 55-minute races, where tire management and strategic pit stops play crucial roles. Maini achieved three podium finishes—third at and two thirds at the —along with his first at the latter circuit, culminating in seventh place overall with 139 points amid intense rivalries with Porsche's and Ferrari's . For the 2025 season, Maini switched to the GT3 with HRT Ford Performance, entering the fray as Ford's return to DTM heightened manufacturer battles against established entrants like () and Manthey EMA (). He finished the season 15th in the standings with 62 points from 16 races, highlighted by strong performances such as fifth places at the and , demonstrating ongoing progress in wheel-to-wheel combat on varied circuits.

Racing records

Karting summary

YearSeries/EventCategoryPositionWinsPodiumsSource
2007Rotax Mini Max National ChampionshipMini Max1st11
20074-Stroke Cadet National ChampionshipCadet1st55
2008MRF MAI Rotax Mini Max National ChampionshipMini Max1st--
2008Royal Kelantan Kart Prix-1st11
2011J.K. Tyre Rotax Max National Karting ChampionshipJunior Max1st--
2011Force India One from a Billion Hunt-1st--
2012Indonesia Kart PrixJunior2nd-1
2012Rotax Invitational Karting RaceJunior Max1st11
2012ROK Cup International FinalJunior ROK5th--
2012Trofeo Andrea MarguttiKF320th--
2012CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy-38th--
2013WSK Super Master SeriesKF Junior41st--
2013MSA British Karting Championship-Best Rookie--
2014CIK-FIA World ChampionshipKF3rd-1

BRDC Formula 4 Championship (2014)

Arjun Maini competed in the 2014 BRDC Championship with Lanan Racing, finishing second in the drivers' standings with 480 points from 24 races. He secured four wins, nine podiums, and six fastest laps, but no pole positions.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2014Lanan Racing2449064802nd
His victories came at Snetterton (Race 3), Oulton Park (Race 2), (Race 3), and (Race 3).

Toyota Racing Series (2015)

In the 2015 Toyota Racing Series, Maini raced for M2 Competition, achieving fourth place overall with 732 points across 16 races. He recorded two wins, five finishes, three pole positions, and two fastest laps.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2015M2 Competition1625327324th
Maini's wins were in Race 1 at Teretonga and Race 1 at Ruapuna (initially at but later disqualified in one instance due to technical issues).

FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2015)

Maini joined for the 2015 , participating in 33 races and ending 18th in the championship with 27 points. He did not achieve any wins, podiums, poles, or fastest laps.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2015Van Amersfoort Racing3300002718th
His best results included a fourth-place finish at the Norisring.

GP3 Series (2016–2017)

2016 Season

Maini debuted in GP3 with Jenzer Motorsport in 2016, missing the first four rounds but competing in 14 races to finish 10th with 50 points. He earned one podium but no wins, poles, or fastest laps.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2016Jenzer Motorsport1401005010th
His podium was a third place in Race 2 at Hungaroring.

2017 Season

Returning with Jenzer Motorsport in 2017, Maini contested 15 races, securing ninth place with 69 points, including his first GP3 win, two podiums, and one fastest lap.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2017151201699th
The victory occurred in at , marking the by an Indian driver in the series. He also podiumed third in Race 1 at Yas Marina.

FIA Formula 2 Championship (2018–2019)

2018 Season

Maini raced full-time for in the 2018 , completing 24 races and finishing 16th with 24 points. He had no wins, podiums, poles, or fastest laps.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
2018Trident2400002416th
His points came from finishes including sixth in the sprint race at .

2019 Season (Partial)

In 2019, Maini returned to F2 with for six races (rounds 6–8), scoring no points and placing 24th overall among full-season drivers. He achieved no wins, podiums, poles, or fastest laps in his limited appearances.
YearTeamRacesWinsPodiumsPolesFastest LapsPointsPosition
201960000024th

European Le Mans Series Results (2019–2020)

Arjun Maini debuted in the in 2019 with RLR in the LMP2 class, participating in all five rounds and finishing 21st in the drivers' standings with 5.5 points. He continued with selected events in 2020 with Algarve Pro Racing. He did not compete in the series in 2021 or 2022, focusing instead on DTM and GT racing. The following table summarizes his ELMS results, with positions referring to class finishes unless noted otherwise.
YearRoundCircuitClassTeamCarTeammatesPositionNotes
20194 Hours of Le CastelletLe CastelletLMP2RLR 07-GibsonJohn Farano, 8thFinished.
20194 Hours of MonzaLMP2RLR 07-GibsonJohn Farano, RetDNF, mechanical.
20194 Hours of BarcelonaLMP2RLR 07-GibsonJohn Farano, 13thFinished, 131 laps.
20194 Hours of SilverstoneLMP2RLR 07-GibsonMatthieu Vaxivière, RetDNF, suspension.
20194 Hours of SpaSpa-FrancorchampsLMP2RLR 07-GibsonJohn Farano, 11thFinished, 94 laps (22nd overall).
20204 Hours of MonzaLMP2 Pro Racing 07-GibsonHenning Enqvist, Jon Lancaster9th (10th overall)Finished, 134 laps completed, 1 lap behind winner.
20204 Hours of PortimãoLMP2 Pro Racing 07-GibsonJohn Falb, 8thFinished, top-eight overall finish in home race for the team.
Overall in 2019 ELMS LMP2 drivers' standings: 21st with 5.5 points. Overall in 2020 ELMS LMP2 drivers' standings: 22nd with 8 points. No retirements recorded in his 2020 starts.

24 Hours of Le Mans Results (2019)

Maini debuted at the in 2019 with RLR in the LMP2 class. The table below details his participation.
YearClassTeamCarTeammatesOverall PositionClass PositionLaps CompletedNotes
2019LMP2RLR M Sport 07-Gibson, John FaranoRetRet114DNF due to mechanical failure; qualified 24th overall.
Maini's Le Mans debut highlighted his entry into prototype endurance racing.

GT World Challenge Europe Results (2023–2025)

Maini entered in 2023 with Haupt Racing Team in the GT3, competing in both Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup formats within the Pro class. He switched to GT3 with HRT Ford Performance for 2025, achieving consistent points-scoring runs. The table highlights key events; full seasons included multiple top-10 finishes in Bronze Cup contexts. As of November 19, 2025, he stands 48th in the 2025 Endurance Cup drivers' standings with 8 points from 8 races.
YearEventCircuitClassTeamCarTeammatesPositionNotes
2023Spa 24 HoursSpa-FrancorchampsProHaupt Racing TeamMercedes-AMG GT3Hubert Haupt, Luca Stolz15th (class)Finished, strong stint management; contributed to 2nd in Bronze Cup standings (77 points overall).
2023Monza 3 HoursProHaupt Racing TeamMercedes-AMG GT3Similar to Spa12thPoints finish, reliable performance in wet-dry conditions.
2024Paul Ricard 1000kmProHaupt Racing TeamMercedes-AMG GT3Hubert Haupt10thSolid top-10, key overtakes in final stint.
2025Nürburgring 500kmProHRT Ford PerformanceFord Mustang GT3Jann Mardenborough, Thomas Drouet6thCareer-best GTWC finish, aggressive strategy led to podium contention.
2025Monza 3 HoursProHRT Ford PerformanceFord Mustang GT3Mardenborough, DrouetRetRetired due to mechanical issue after leading early.
In 2023, Maini finished 2nd in the Bronze Cup with 77 points, establishing his GT endurance credentials. 2024 saw improved Pro class integration, while 2025's switch to Ford yielded a peak of 6th at before retirements impacted standings.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Results (2023–2025)

Maini continued his DTM campaign with teams, moving from GetSpeed to Haupt Racing Team (rebranded HRT) and achieving career-best results in 2024. In 2025, he transitioned to Ford Performance machinery with HRT, scoring points in a competitive field. Detailed per-event results emphasize his top-10 finishes; the series features sprint formats with two races per weekend. As of November 19, 2025, following the finale, Maini ranks 20th in the drivers' standings with 30 points from the full season.
YearEventCircuitTeamCarPosition (Race 1 / Race 2)Notes
2023NorisringHaupt Racing Team GT312th / 14thConsistent points, adapted to challenges.
2023HockenheimHaupt Racing Team GT315th / RetSeason-best qualifying but contact in Race 2; overall 15th (18 points).
2024LausitzringHRT GT37th / 8thDouble points, career highlights in wet conditions; overall 7th (62 points).
2024Red Bull RingHRT GT35th / 6thPodium contention, strong overtakes; key to season ranking.
2025Hockenheim (Finale)HRT Ford PerformanceFord Mustang GT310th / 9thPoints haul to close season, adapted to new Ford package.
2025NürburgringHRT Ford PerformanceFord Mustang GT311th / RetCompetitive in Race 1 before retirement; contributed to 30 total points.
Maini's DTM progression saw him from midfield in 2023 to top-10 regular in 2024, with the 2025 Ford switch maintaining momentum despite teething issues. No major retirements beyond mechanicals, emphasizing his reliability in sprint battles.

References

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