FIA European F3: Arjun Maini continues to scrap in the midfield

After narrowly missing out on the BRDC Formula 4 title last year, Arjun Maini took the bold step to compete at the highest level of Formula 3 racing - the FIA European F3 Championship - this year in the hopes of gaining invaluable experience as well as points that would count towards a Formula 1 super-license.

The transition has been a tough one so far for the 16-year-old but among the positives for Maini has been an ability to race in the cut and thrust of the midfield of a junior single seat series that is almost universally considered to be an essential step for any driver serious about a career in professional motorsport's highest categories, including F1.

Away from the spotlight of the sharp end of the European F3 field, where the very experienced Felix Rosenqvist and Antonio Giovinazzi battle rookie driver Charles Leclerc, Arjun Maini has battled in the middle of the field of 35 drivers who hail from different parts of the globe including Europe, China and South America.

The first three races of the opening round at Silverstone resulted in a retirement, 14th and 16th place. On paper the results sound tame, but Maini displayed an ability to hold his own in the midfield and even gain track position over the course of the race.

Similarly at Hockenheim on Sunday, Maini endured a retirement and a 16th and 13th place finish in the first and third races of the weekend. Race three saw him gain five places despite there being just two retirements, of which only one driver qualified higher than him.

Arjun Maini is next in action in European F3 at the storied Pau Grand Prix circuit in France on the 16-17 May weekend.