2009 System 1 champion has heaped reward on race engineer Peter Bonnington for his “calming” affect on Kimi Antonelli after the Italian teenager secured pole place for the British Grand Prix.
Antonelli has been one of many greatest surprises of the 2026 season. In solely his second season within the championship, the 19-year-old has secured 5 consecutive grand prix victories in China, Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco.
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His robust efficiency has continued at Silverstone this weekend. He received the dash race after taking the lead from seven-time champion and has now secured pole place for the grand prix on Sunday.
In accordance with Button, an necessary consider Antonelli’s success is his race engineer. Bonnington, affectionately generally known as Bono, has beforehand labored with and Hamilton.
“That was superb, actually spectacular. It appears like nothing fazes him. That is what I do not perceive,” Button defined on Sky Sports activities F1 after qualifying.
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“With the administration of Toto and Bono, his engineer, it is helped him develop within the sport.
Kimi Antonelli, Peter Bonnington
Kimi Antonelli, Peter Bonnington
“Bono is a really calming character. Kimi, at instances, this 12 months has bought very excited on the radio throughout a race, however Bono is the calming voice that brings him again all the way down to earth.”
Former F1 driver and Sky Sports activities analyst additionally famous how comfy Antonelli appears within the Mercedes equipment. “Antonelli’s wanting ever extra comfy as championship chief,” he mentioned.
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“Mercedes is sort of a second household to him and that issues rather a lot – while you really feel actually valued in your crew.
“I had each experiences of that and it dramatically affected my efficiency.”
Ferrari’s will be part of Antonelli on the entrance row of the grid on Sunday. Hamilton and Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate will full the second row.
The British Grand Prix will happen at 3pm on Sunday 5 July.
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