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“Winning The Italian GT Championship Is The Goal This Year” – Interview With Indian Racer Mahaveer Raghunathan
Mahaveer Raghunathan has taken an unusual road in motorsport. From karting in Chennai to Formula 2's unforgiving spotlight, he's lived through both the highs and lows as he chases the ultimate goal of racing in F1.
These days, he's behind the wheel of the Ferrari 296 GT3 with AF Corse in the Italian GT Championship, chasing wins and podiums while racing against some of Europe's sharpest sports car drivers.
In this interview, conducted over a few email interactions, Mahaveer speaks about his early years, the tough days in F2, what it takes to adapt to GT racing, and how he deals with the labels that have followed him online. He also opens up about his routines, his goals for the future, and what Indian motorsport needs to keep producing world-class drivers. Here's what he had to say...
DriveSpark: You grew up in Chennai and now you're racing on some of the biggest tracks in Europe. How did this whole journey start for you?
Mahaveer: I always had a passion for cars and speed from a very young age, started karting in Chennai, took part and finished top 3 in the Amazon Karting challenge in Kolhapur, that's when I became very ambitious to do well in racing so I started pursuing it seriously.
DriveSpark: Was there a person or a moment that made you think, "Yes, this is what I want to do for real"?
Mahaveer: In the year 2013, when I took my first pole position and a podium finish in the Formula BMW championship at the Buddh international circuit that's when I decided racing was the only thing I wanted to do for real.
DriveSpark: What was the first time you felt like you truly belonged on the international racing grid?
Mahaveer: The 2014 FIA F4 Italian championship. In the 2nd half of the year I was always fighting at the front of the field and had a string of strong races against a very competitive field consisting of some current F1 drivers. That's when I felt I truly belonged on the international racing grid.
DriveSpark: Who were your motorsport heroes growing up?
Mahaveer: Sebastián Vettel. He was winning in F1 when I started watching it.
DriveSpark: You've had one of the highest penalty counts in Formula 2 history. How much of that was bad luck, and how much was on you?
Mahaveer: Half of it was bad luck due to miscommunication with the team, since looking back, certain things could have been avoided if together we had gone through the scenarios beforehand, like I do this year, for example, which is preparing what all scenarios I would face and how to avoid any errors/mistakes.
The other half was me not having experience the year before in Formula 3, since most of the new rules were adopted in FIA F3 but not in other categories I had raced before, so if I had raced F3 the year before, it would be much easier for me.
DriveSpark: Looking back at your time in F2, do you think the criticism of your racecraft was fair - or blown out of proportion?
Mahaveer: Of course, it was tough with lack of track time in F2 to be able to adapt very quickly to the car and new tracks without prior experience or testing, but I learnt a lot, which helped me massively in the F1 tests and now in GT racing, so all the experience was very valuable.
I can't be judging if it was fair or not, since the only thing to do is to learn from it and put it to good use, which I am doing now when I am competing for the championship and winning races at the front, since at this point any errors would impact and affect the race results a lot more compared to before.
DriveSpark: Some online critics have called you "the most infamous driver in F2." How do you respond to that label?
Mahaveer: It hasn't affected my racing career in any way or stopped me from having great opportunities in the world of Formula 1 or in GT racing, but rather, I have only kept on improving and rising above it all. I am always moving forward.
DriveSpark: Did you ever feel that certain teams or race officials treated you differently because of your reputation?
Mahaveer: No, not at all. I have always had a very good relationship with all the teams I have worked with, and it is the same with the officials.
DriveSpark: Switching from single-seaters to GT racing isn't easy. What's been the toughest part of that change for you?
Mahaveer: The toughest part is adapting to the weight of the car, since it's very heavy compared to the single seaters, so adapting to it and extracting the maximum out of it without making mistakes is the tricky part. Also, the vision is quite limited since it is covered compared to formula cars, so getting used to that when racing wheel to wheel is also challenging.
DriveSpark: Has there ever been a race where you and the Ferrari 296 GT3 have been in absolute perfect sync?
Mahaveer: Yes, Race 2 at Vallelunga. When I won the race, I was doing very good lap times consistently for my whole stint, never letting the cars behind catch me. I just had a very good rhythm with the car and the track, and it was just when everything came together.
DriveSpark: You're the only Indian driver on the 2025 Italian GT grid. Does that bring you extra pride - or extra pressure?
Mahaveer: Of course, it feels great to compete in the 2025 Italian GT Championship, that too with a top team like AF Corse, fighting for the podiums and wins on a regular basis. But it's also added pressure to do well, so it is important to focus on driving and keep pushing.
DriveSpark: When fans and teams abroad find out you're an Indian driver at this level, what kind of reactions do you get?
Mahaveer: They are supportive and help motivate me.
DriveSpark: You race alongside Lorenzo Ferrari. How do the two of you build that trust and coordination on track?
Mahaveer: Lorenzo Ferrari has a lot of experience in GT3, so it's very good and easy to work with him. The team are also very happy about how we work together and that we're pushing in the right direction.
DriveSpark: What's one big lesson you've picked up from working with AF Corse?
Mahaveer: It is how to extract the maximum from the Ferrari 296 GT3 race car, since it's a high downforce car with lots of grip. So, I have learnt how to maximise the car's potential and how to consistently do it for the whole race.
DriveSpark: Did any rival or teammate ever give you feedback that stuck with you - and did it change how you drive?
Mahaveer: I have always raced with many competitive drivers, so watching onboard, comparing data, and improving from that has been the key. Also, in the simulator, when I do online races, I race against many drivers, which helps me improve massively.
DriveSpark: Racing can be brutal on both the body and mind. How do you stay fit and mentally sharp through an entire season?
Mahaveer: I work out in the gym and I also do a lot of running for my physical fitness. For my mental sharpness, I race in iRacing and drive my simulator every day.
DriveSpark: Do you have any quirky rituals, lucky charms, or routines you always follow before a race?
Mahaveer: Just a normal warmup to be ready physically, then I visualise myself driving the perfect lap and implementing all the improvements I need to make. I also mentally visualise the race start, first lap to make sure I gain positions and just be mentally sharp and ready to attack.
DriveSpark: When you're not at the track, what's your idea of a perfect day?
Mahaveer: Working out, racing in the simulator and preparing for the next race.
DriveSpark: When you're not racing or training, what's something unexpected that you're passionate about?
Mahaveer: I am very passionate about sim racing but apart from that I do a lot of running and swimming which I enjoy very much.
DriveSpark: What's the one piece of advice you'd give to young Indian drivers dreaming of racing in Europe?
Mahaveer: Trust that it will work out in the end, not worrying too much about what if it doesn't work out. Keep working hard on yourself. If you perform well, everything becomes easier.
DriveSpark: Would you ever consider racing in Formula E or other electric championships as the sport evolves?
Mahaveer: Yes of course, it will be a great opportunity to race in Formula E and a very good step for my racing career.
DriveSpark: What do you think Indian motorsport needs most right now to produce more international-level drivers?
Mahaveer: I think Indian motorsport now has everything it needs and there are so many races happening in India and many Indian drivers racing in Europe.
DriveSpark: What's next for you - and where do you see yourself racing in the future?
Mahaveer: The only goal now is to win the championship in Italian GT, but in terms of a final goal, it's racing in Formula 1.
So there you have it. Mahaveer Raghunathan, in his own words. A racer who is constantly evolving as he looks to return to single-seater racing and ultimately reach Formula 1. His journey has seen both highs and lows, but it is far from over. We thank him for taking the time to talk with us and wish him the best for the remainder of his current season in the Italian GT Championship and his ultimate dream of racing in F1.
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