Kush Maini Showcases Indian Watch Brand at Formula 1 Season Opener
Historic Moment for Indian Watchmaking
During the inaugural race weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season held in Melbourne, Kush Maini, a driver from the Alpine Academy and Reserve Driver for Formula 1, was spotted in the paddock sporting the Rotoris Astonia Sports Chronograph in Phantom Black. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first instance of an Indian watch brand being featured on the Formula 1 grid.
Race Venue and Brand Launch
The event took place at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, where Maini was photographed wearing the watch throughout the F1 weekend. Rotoris, which made its global debut earlier this year, designs its timepieces with inspiration drawn from motorsport timing and precision engineering, elements that are reflected in the Astonia chronograph. This appearance coincides with the increasing popularity of Formula 1 in India, particularly among younger fans who are enthusiastic about racing, technology, and engineering.
Features of the Astonia Sports Chronograph
The Astonia Sports Chronograph worn by Maini boasts a 42mm matte black stainless steel case, a tachymetric bezel, sapphire crystal glass, and an FKM rubber strap. It incorporates Rotoris's unique Q-MATIC technology, which is powered by Seiko's TMI VK63 meca-quartz movement, merging quartz precision with the sweeping chronograph hand and pushers typical of mechanical chronographs.
Insights from Kush Maini and Rotoris
Reflecting on his experience with the Rotoris Astonia Sports Chronograph, Kush Maini expressed, "I connect with Astonia not just because of the aesthetics but a deeper connection. Time doesn't define me. I define the time I have. Always moving, always building. I am Kush Maini, and I'm always becoming more."
Prerna Gupta, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Rotoris, highlighted that Maini embodies the brand's ethos. She stated, "When we designed the Astonia, it was born from racing instruments. The tachymetre. The chronograph pushers. The precision of split-second measurement. Seeing it on the wrist of a racing driver at a Formula 1 circuit, at the opening race of the season, is a moment that brings the philosophy full circle. Kush represents exactly what Rotoris stands for—a decade of discipline, climbing through every tier of motorsport, earning each step forward. For a young Indian watch brand to appear on the Formula 1 grid in its first year, on the wrist of one of India's most promising racing drivers, signals something larger. It shows that Indian design and engineering can stand confidently on the global stage."
About Kush Maini and Rotoris
Kush Maini is an Indian racing driver competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix. He is affiliated with the Alpine Academy and serves as the Test and Reserve Driver for the BWT Alpine Formula One Team, in addition to being a reserve driver for Mahindra Racing in Formula E.
Rotoris was established by Aakash Anand, Prerna Gupta, Anant Narula, and Kunal Kapania. The brand successfully secured USD 3 million in seed funding from notable investors, including Nikhil Kamath, Vivek Oberoi, Tanmay Bhatt, 100 Unicorns, and Venture Catalysts. Launched in February 2026, Rotoris released 2,100 numbered watches through an invitation-only access model.