Mahindra Racing has confirmed Kush Maini and Théophile Naël as Rookies for the upcoming Madrid Testing. The session is planned for Sunday, 22 March, following the championship’s first weekend at Circuito del Jarama. The testing is part of the CUPRA Raval Madrid E-Prix weekend and offers drivers the chance to gain valuable track time in GEN3 Evos.
Maini Continues Role with Mahindra
For Maini, the outing represents another opportunity to build experience with the Indian manufacturer. The 26-year-old has been a part of the Mahindra team since Season 10 and currently serves as the team’s reserve driver. Alongside his Formula E responsibilities, Maini races in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and is a member of the Alpine Academy.
Across his time with the team, the Formula 2 driver has repeatedly impressed during testing opportunities. Most notably, Maini topped the rookie practice session during the 2025 Jeddah Rookie Free Practice. His involvement with Mahindra highlights the ongoing partnership between one of India’s most promising drivers, apart from Formula 1 Rookie Arvid Lindblad, and the only Indian team competing at world championship level in international motorsport.
Naël Set for First Formula E Experience
Joining Maini in Madrid will be French driver Théophile Naël, who is preparing for his first on-track experience in Formula E machinery. The 18-year-old began his racing career in karting, where he later secured the title in the 2018 French Karting Championship. Since moving into single-seater racing, Naël has continued to build an impressive résumé.
He claimed the victory in the F4 Spanish Championship and a win at the Macau Grand Prix in 2025. For the 2026 campaign, Naël is competing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Campos Racing, marking his second season in the highly competitive category. Now the French driver is adding electric racing to the list.
Rookie Test Concludes Madrid Race Weekend
The Madrid Rookie Test will take place the day after the championship stages its inaugural E-Prix at Jarama. For Mahindra Racing an opportunity to gather data with this pairing, that provides a mix of knowledge and fresh perspective.