Kimi Antonelli, the teenage Italian racing prodigy, has opened up about his somewhat awkward introduction to Peter Bonnington, better known as “Bono,” the longtime race engineer of Lewis Hamilton. As Antonelli embarks on his rookie Formula 1 season with Mercedes, stepping into the seat vacated by seven-time world champion Hamilton, forging a strong bond with Bono has been crucial to his early success. The brief but telling encounter between the young driver and Hamilton’s trusted ally took place as Antonelli settled into the Silver Arrows garage, marking the start of a key partnership in his maiden campaign.
Antonelli, who has quickly impressed by taking pole position in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport how their first meeting felt a bit tense. “Very nice,” Antonelli said when asked about his relationship with Bono.
“At the beginning I saw him a bit tense because I’m a very physical guy. I like to hug people, touch them, and ‘Bono’ wasn’t used to it, he’s more ‘British’. Now that he’s opening up I’m very happy when he comes to hug me.”
This glimpse into their evolving relationship highlights the human side of F1, where personalities matter just as much as speed.
Before Antonelli’s arrival, he already had a good rapport with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, but building close ties with key team members like Bono has added an important dimension to his development. Bono, who played a vital role in Hamilton’s record-breaking 12-year tenure at Mercedes, has effectively become Antonelli’s mentor. As Hamilton moved to Ferrari, Bono’s guidance is vital to help the rookie navigate the pressures and complexities of racing at the highest level.
So far in 2025, Kimi Antonelli has outperformed expectations and even holds a higher spot than Hamilton in the drivers‘ championship standings. Though he is yet to claim a podium finish, Antonelli has scored points in five of his six races and secured his first sprint race pole just this month. These milestones demonstrate the young Italian’s rapid growth and potential as a future star for Mercedes, alongside teammate George Russell. The strong performances from both drivers have positioned Mercedes as the main challengers to McLaren, maintaining a solid lead over Red Bull in the constructors‘ championship.
Looking ahead, Antonelli will compete in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this week at Imola, where he is set to make his home race debut. This event represents a significant moment for the 18-year-old, who aims to continue impressing his fans and solidify his place in the fiercely competitive F1 paddock. With Bono’s experience and support forming a crucial foundation, Kimi Antonelli’s journey looks poised to bring fresh excitement to Mercedes and the championship battle.
