A project explained on 20 October
Kush Maini explained the meaning of a special helmet in a Formula 2 feature published on 20 October 2026. The ART Grand Prix driver is collaborating with the art project of India’s Akanksha Foundation, bringing together work by two artists, Aalifiya and Aditi. Maini had already been wearing the design when he discussed it with the championship. The feature’s development is the explanation of the images and their authors, rather than a newly announced racing debut for the helmet.
Aalifiya’s mandala
The mandala on top of the helmet was created by Aalifiya. Maini says the work represents peace and calm, qualities he also tries to maintain in the car. That connection starts with the artist’s meaning and extends into the driver’s own experience. By identifying Aalifiya and explaining her contribution, Maini uses the discussion of his racing equipment to introduce the person behind the image, giving its authorship a clear place in the story.
Aditi’s memory of home
The artwork on the side belongs to Aditi and reflects a memory of home. It resonates with Maini because he left home at a young age and says that he carries that connection with him wherever he goes. The two contributions therefore bring different ideas to the same helmet. One concerns an inner sense of calm; the other draws on memory and belonging. Maini’s explanation preserves those separate meanings while describing why both matter to him.
Art within education
Art for Akanksha describes its mission as providing art education for children within and beyond the foundation’s network. Its approach gives pupils a visual language through which to explore, create and communicate their own stories. The programme’s official page places art alongside subjects such as mathematics, science and language within education. It also describes the knowledge, skills and values developed through art as relevant beyond the classroom, providing context for the collaboration seen in Formula 2.
The foundation in Maini’s words
In the Formula 2 interview, Maini describes Akanksha as a nonprofit organisation with 35 years of activity. He attributes to it the belief that rethinking a child’s education can improve the circumstances of an entire family. He connects that purpose with talent that receives little attention when opportunities and resources are missing. The driver says he wants to use his sporting platform to bring greater visibility to the people creating the work.
Keeping the artists in view
Maini said he was proud to take part and looked forward to meeting the artists when he returned to India. For readers seeing the helmet in the Formula 2 paddock, the useful distinction is straightforward: Aalifiya created the mandala, while Aditi supplied the image connected with home. The driver’s account and the foundation’s educational mission together explain the collaboration, with the names and individual stories behind the artwork remaining central to the design.
