Rob Smedley discusses the significant contribution of Peter Bonnington to Kimi Antonelli's achievements in Formula 1.
Rob Smedley, a former Formula 1 race engineer, highlights the crucial role Peter "Bono" Bonnington has played in Kimi Antonelli's pursuit of the 2026 F1 championship, while emphasizing that it is ultimately the Mercedes driver who must perform on the track.
Antonelli made history by becoming the youngest driver to top the standings following consecutive wins at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. Despite expectations that the pressure might weigh heavily on the 20-year-old, he has continued to excel in his sophomore season in the series.
The Italian racer secured his eighth victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, giving him an 81-point lead over his teammate George Russell, who is in second place in the standings.
On an episode of the High Performance Racing podcast, Smedley was inquired about how much recognition Antonelli's race engineer Bonnington, who has previously collaborated with Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, should receive for the remarkable 2026 season.
"Bono is everything. Everything. The engineer should get all the praise," he quipped. "Without the engineer, these guys would be nowhere."
He added with a more serious tone: "He certainly deserves some acknowledgment, doesn’t he? Because he keeps him focused. He provides all the necessary information. But Kimi's the one with his foot on the pedal, isn’t he? He’s the one who has to perform on a Sunday afternoon."
Peter Bonnington, Race Engineer, Mercedes
Otmar Szafnauer, the former Alpine team principal and co-host of the podcast with Smedley and broadcaster Jake Humphrey, remarked: "[Antonelli's] also a vital part of the feedback mechanism. He communicates his needs to Bono, and Bono executes it."
Antonelli previously referred to his collaboration with Bonnington as a "privilege".
"Having someone like Bono is incredible," Antonelli stated during the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend. "It’s a tremendous privilege because he has collaborated with two of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history – he worked with Michael and then spent many years with Lewis.
"So having someone with such extensive knowledge and experience is genuinely beneficial, particularly as I encounter numerous new situations that I will have to navigate, many challenges to face, and an abundance of lessons to learn. Having someone like him who possesses considerable experience is undoubtedly advantageous as it can effectively guide you through every scenario, and I feel extremely fortunate to have him by my side."
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