Photo: Dutch Photo Agency
Alpine Formula 1 junior Kush Maini has been penalised after being found at fault for the huge start crash in the Baku Formula 2 feature race.
Maini failed to get away from fifth on the grid when the lights went out and was hit by Oliver Goethe and Pepe Marti, with the latter being pitched upside down. All drivers involved were unharmed, but a lengthy red flag was needed to clear the track, leading to the race being shortened.
In a surprising development, Maini was investigated following the race after it was determined that he had not engaged the start set-up procedure as required by the regulations.
As a consequence, as well as being disqualified from the results for that infraction, he was handed a 10-second penalty – converted into a five-place grid drop – for causing the subsequent collision.
The stewards ruled that, because the car had stalled as a result of the start procedure not being engaged, Maini was “wholly responsible” for the crash.
The Invicta Racing driver is set to serve the grid penalty in the next race, which will be the sprint race in Qatar at the end of November.
“I’m glad no one was hurt, and that Oliver and Pepe are OK. That’s the main thing after a crash like that,” Maini said. “It’s a real shame to end the weekend like that because we had strong pace through practice, qualifying and the sprint.”
Maini is currently 11th in the F2 standings having not scored across the past three rounds. He previously won the sprint race at the Hungaroring, one of five podiums he has achieved so far this season.