Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Mahindra's Bertrand eyes Kush Maini as future Formula E driver
Kush Maini is a race car driver from India who works with a racing team called Mahindra.
Right now he is a reserve driver, which means he helps the team but does not get to race in the championship.
The team's boss, Frederic Bertrand, says Maini could become a real race driver for Mahindra one day.
But he says Maini will only get a racing seat if he is fast enough to help the team win.
The team says it will pick the best driver, not someone just because of the country they come from.
Maini also races in another series called Formula 2, so he has to decide which kind of racing he wants to focus on.
Mahindra has been doing much better lately, with one driver winning a race in Tokyo and another getting many pole positions.
Mahindra has been part of Formula E since it started in 2013 and plans to stay until at least 2030.
The team also uses what it learns from racing to help make better electric cars for normal roads.
Mahindra Racing CEO Frederic Bertrand says reserve driver Kush Maini could become a 'definitive candidate' for a Formula E race seat in the future.
Bertrand stressed Mahindra will not choose a driver based on nationality and will only promote Maini if he reaches the level needed to compete at the front.
Maini, who also races in Formula 2 and is part of the Alpine Driver Academy, has been Mahindra's reserve driver since Season 10 and topped a rookie practice session in Jeddah.
Current drivers Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara anchor Mahindra's turnaround, with Mortara taking four pole positions this season and de Vries winning the Tokyo E-Prix.
Mahindra, a founding Formula E team since 2013, has committed to the championship through at least 2030 and enters the Gen4 era next season.
- Who
- Mahindra Racing CEO and Team Principal Frederic Bertrand and reserve driver Kush Maini, alongside race drivers Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara.
- What
- Bertrand said Maini could become Mahindra's future Formula E race driver, but only if he proves competitive, as the team will not compromise its ambitions for nationality.
- When
- Ahead of the Formula E season finale, as the London double-header closes the 2025-26 season on August 15-16.
- Where
- London (season finale), with Maini being born in Bengaluru and competing internationally.
- Why
- Mahindra wants to strengthen its Indian identity while its priority remains winning the championship, so a seat must be earned on performance.
Indian talent and identity focus
Team performance-first approach
Driver selection: nationality vs. merit
Indian talent and identity focus
Mahindra's desire to strengthen its Indian identity leads fans to expect Maini, a Bengaluru-born Indian, to get a race seat, giving the country a presence on the global motorsport stage.
Team performance-first approach
Bertrand says nationality has never been a priority and the team must choose the best driver to win the championship, refusing to compromise competitive ambitions just to have an Indian behind the wheel.
Maini's career pathway
Indian talent and identity focus
Maini is 'very strongly included' in Mahindra's development programme, regularly attending races and learning Formula E demands, making a future race seat a realistic goal.
Team performance-first approach
Bertrand says Maini must choose whether his career will be in Formula E or Formula 1 and must reach the level required to compete at the front before becoming a definitive candidate for a seat.
- Team
- Mahindra Racing
- CEO and Team Principal
- Frederic Bertrand
- Driver in question
- Kush Maini (reserve driver, also races in Formula 2)
- Current race drivers
- Nyck de Vries and Edoardo Mortara
- Season finale
- London double-header, August 15-16 (end of 2025-26 season and Gen3 era)
- Championship commitment
- Manufacturer in Formula E through at least 2030
- Team history
- Founding Formula E team since 2013
- Mortara's achievement
- Four pole positions in a single season, equalling the Formula E record