Victor Martins and Kush Maini behind the wheel of the Alpine in private testing
During this several-week break in Formula 2, Alpine has decided to have two Formula 2 drivers test in order to give them some track time in Formula 1. Testing was carried out in Spielberg, Austria this Wednesday and Thursday.
The young drivers from the Alpine Academy, Victor Martins and Kush Maini, took part in their first test of the 2024 season with the Alpine F1 team, at the wheel of a 2022 A522 car. The two-day test, held at the Spielberg circuit in Austria, saw the young drivers take turns driving the A522. Kush Maini drove the A522 on Wednesday, June 5, followed by Victor Martins on Thursday, June 6, as part of their test programs for 2024.
The two drivers, currently competing in their second season in the FIA Formula 2, each took control of the car for a full day. Kush drove the A522 on Wednesday, June 5, while Victor took over on Thursday, June 6. This test in Austria marked the first time Kush drove a modern F1 car and the second time he tested with the team BWT Alpine F1. Kush had previously driven the A521 at the Bahrain International Circuit in 2023 after joining the Alpine Academy program last October.
Victor, for his part, had already taken part in three days of testing with the team. He had driven the A521 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, at Spielberg and at the Hungaroring in 2023. This test also marked the first time that the Frenchman had driven a modern F1 car. This event is part of the testing program for young drivers, in which both drivers will participate throughout the year as members of the Alpine Academy.
A dream come true for Kush Maini.
Kush Maini shared his enthusiasm after his day behind the wheel of the A522, his first day driving a Formula 1 car: “My first full day in a Formula 1 car ended in Spielberg. It was a dream come true and even better than I could have imagined. I am so grateful to the Alpine F1 team for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. The race support team did an incredible job in getting me up to speed quickly and ensuring that the test went as smoothly as possible. Their hard work and efforts do not go unnoticed, so a big thank you to them. We executed our race plan successfully and were able to tick all the boxes on our checklist, making this test an incredible experience. I look forward to the next one.”
A second one for Victor Martins
Victor Martins also expressed his satisfaction after his test day. For the Frenchman, it was the second time he got behind the wheel of an Alpine F1 car: « It was a beautiful test day in Austria. It’s incredible to be able to drive a Formula 1 car once again after the three test days I did with the Alpine F1 team in 2023. The feeling of being in the car is amazing, and the day was really enjoyable thanks to the support of the team on site who worked hard to ensure the test ran smoothly. It was another positive test for me, and it was a great opportunity to learn as much as possible. We maximized the track time for the day, going through qualifying and race simulations. Having the track all to myself and making the most of the car was an added bonus after a tough start to the Formula 2 season; it certainly boosted my confidence as a driver. Thanks to the team for giving me the opportunity to drive the A522 around Spielberg. I look forward to the next test. »
Next track sessions for F2 drivers in Barcelona at the end of June.
