Here's the thing about Kush Maini and his ART Grand Prix machine: when they hook it up early, they are properly quick. The Indian driver stamped his authority on Round 12 in Baku right away, setting the early benchmark and staying locked near the sharp end of the timesheets throughout the 45-minute opening session.
Then came the final lap. Maini dropped a 1:56.532 to snatch the top spot, beating Alexander Dunne by exactly 0.204s and signaling a massive return to form after a frustrating previous outing. "It was really strong. I think all session we were really strong," Maini said after climbing out of the cockpit. "It's a good feeling after Madrid obviously. We were P1 in Madrid as well after Practice and didn't end up racing really. So, nice to be back here in the front."
I think obviously with the track rubbering in, it was quite dirty in FP and then the tyres and everything, it'll change the balance a bit,
Confidence is a funny thing in this sport, but Maini knows the speed has been hiding in the chassis all along. "Like we said, we know the pace is there. It's just about putting everything together now. It's great to start a doubleheader with good pace, but quali is next and practice means nothing really. So, we'll just take the confidence in the quali and try and re-deliver," he added. "I mean, the car is very good. It always has been. I think generally me as well, I get up to speed quite quick, even from my first day in F2."
The challenge now is that the track is a moving target. With warmer temperatures on the horizon, a switch from the Soft to the Supersoft compound, and Formula 1 laying down extra rubber following their own Free Practice 1, qualifying is going to demand a totally different approach. The dirt-swept tarmac of the morning session will give way to entirely new grip levels.
"I think obviously with the track rubbering in, it was quite dirty in FP and then the tyres and everything, it'll change the balance a bit," Maini explained regarding the upcoming sessions. "Even the temperature will change the balance a bit. But in the end, we're in the right ballpark and it's about tweaking things. I think from the experience from previous years, we can sort of expect what change is going to be made and from a driving point as well, it's going to be a step forward."
Maini already has two Aramco Pole Position Awards to his name this season, taking them cleanly in Miami and Budapest. Now, with Qualifying 1 and 2 looming this evening, he has his eyes squarely set on adding two more to the cabinet. "If I do my best, the car is there and we should be there," he concluded. "So, that's all I need to focus on. We'll see."
