Antonelli on his relationship with Bonnington: "Really lucky to have someone like him"

Of the six rookies on the grid, he is undoubtedly the one who has made the biggest impression in the first two rounds. Andrea Kimi Antonelli lived up to the expectations placed on him in Australia (4th) and China (6th), finishing in the points each time and, above all, not making a single mistake. The 18-year-old Italian, the third youngest driver in history behind Max Verstappen et Lance stroll, showed some good things, notably in Melbourne where he managed to move up from 16th to 4th place in rainy conditions.

If Andrea Kimi Antonelli succeeded in his debut in Formula 1, besides his natural talent that has been credited to him for years, it is also thanks to Mercedes and its "pillars" who built the success of the German team in the 2010s. Covered by Toto wolff, the Bologna native can also rely on his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, better known by the nickname "Bono". The Briton is the iconic engineer of Lewis Hamilton, the man who whispered in the ear of the seven-time world champion during the golden years of the Silver Arrows. And even if the automatisms are not yet there – in China, for example, "Bono" called Kimi "Lewis" out of habit – the Italian appreciates this incredible opportunity.

“Having someone like Bono is incredible, said Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the sidelines of the last Chinese Grand Prix at the end of March. It's a great privilege because he has worked with two of the best drivers in the history of Formula 1, with Michael [Schumacher] and then with Lewis [Hamilton] for many, many years. Having someone with that much knowledge and experience really helps you, because obviously there's a lot of new scenarios that I'm going to have to go through, a lot of new things that I'm going to have to learn, and having someone like him is really helpful. He can really guide you through every situation, and so I feel really lucky to have someone like him."

Antonelli released after his performance in Australia

Peter Bonnington's guidance and composure helped Andrea Kimi Antonelli stay focused, particularly in Australia amid tricky track conditions. The excellent result in Melbourne freed the 18-year-old from the pressure of expectations and results. "It was a big, big relief. The weekend was very intense, and having a good race gave me confidence, but also made me feel very relieved, testified the Italian. Now I feel much calmer and more relaxed; I'm not going to lie, I was quite stressed and a bit tense while I was driving, but now I feel more relaxed and in better control of situations. There's still a lot to learn, but it's a good start and I'm looking forward to the next races." At Suzuka, on a track he will be new to, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will once again be able to count on his race engineer to accelerate his learning.

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