2009 Method 1 champion Jenson Button has heaped reward on Mercedes 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.
His sturdy efficiency has continued at Silverstone this weekend. He received the dash race after taking the lead from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and has now secured pole place for the grand prix on Sunday.
In response to Button, an necessary consider Antonelli’s success is his race engineer. Bonnington, affectionately often known as Bono, has beforehand labored with Michael Schumacher and Hamilton.
“That was superb, actually spectacular. It seems like nothing fazes him. That is what I do not perceive,” Button defined on Sky Sports activities F1 after qualifying.
“With the administration of Toto and Bono, his engineer, it is helped him develop within the sport.
Kimi Antonelli, Peter Bonnington
Photograph by: Reginald Mathalone / NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
“Bono is a really calming character. Kimi, at occasions, this 12 months has acquired 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 Martin Brundle additionally famous how snug Antonelli seems within the Mercedes equipment. “Antonelli’s trying ever extra snug as championship chief,” he stated.
“Mercedes is sort of a second household to him and that issues so much – once you really feel actually valued in your group.
“I had each experiences of that and it dramatically affected my efficiency.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will be part of Antonelli on the entrance row of the grid on Sunday. Hamilton and Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell will full the second row.
The British Grand Prix will happen at 3pm on Sunday 5 July.
Photographs from British GP – Saturday
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