Juan Pablo Montoya believes Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington has played a key role in helping Kimi Antonelli adapt quickly and deliver impressive results at Mercedes.
The former Formula 1 driver said Bonnington’s experience and influence have been an important part of Antonelli’s rise, especially after the young Italian faced heavy scrutiny at the start of his F1 career.
Antonelli’s Formula 1 journey began under intense attention, including a high-profile crash during his FP1 debut at Monza. Since then, however, the Mercedes driver has settled into the team and built strong momentum.
The 19-year-old became the youngest driver to lead the standings in the history of the championship. According to the source text, he has also increased his advantage over team-mate George Russell in second place to 20 points.
Speaking on the BBC Chequered Flag Podcast alongside 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill, Montoya pointed to Bonnington as one of the main reasons behind Antonelli’s form.
Montoya said Bonnington had achieved a great deal with Lewis Hamilton and was now helping shape Antonelli inside Mercedes. He suggested that the experienced race engineer’s guidance has been valuable as Antonelli continues to grow in the team.
Montoya also praised Antonelli’s aggressive approach and determination, particularly in qualifying. He said Antonelli was using the full width of the track compared with other drivers, showing confidence and commitment behind the wheel.
He added that Russell has access to the videos, data and comparisons showing where Antonelli is finding time. According to Montoya, there comes a point when a driver has to try those limits for a lap, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Bonnington previously worked with Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, initially as his performance engineer before becoming his race engineer in September 2011.
After Schumacher retired at the end of 2012, Bonnington became Lewis Hamilton’s senior race engineer. He worked with Hamilton until the seven-time world champion left Mercedes at the end of 2024, with the pair winning six drivers’ titles together during their partnership.
