Bono cherishes 'band back together' podium with Antonelli, Hamilton

Mercedes race engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington described celebrating Kimi Antonelli’s maiden Formula 1 victory on the Chinese Grand Prix podium alongside Lewis Hamilton as a moment he will "cherish," highlighting the special dynamic of working with the sport's past and future stars.

Why it matters:

Bonnington, the iconic voice behind Lewis Hamilton's seven world championships, is now guiding F1's most hyped rookie. His emotional reaction to the shared podium moment bridges Mercedes' dominant past with its ambitious future, offering a unique perspective on the team's transition and the rare talent he sees in Antonelli.

The details:

• Bonnington called the Shanghai podium, where he accepted the constructors' trophy, "getting the band back together," with Antonelli winning, George Russell second, and former Mercedes driver Hamilton third.
• He contrasted his working relationships, noting with Hamilton it was intuitive, whereas with Antonelli he must re-learn and teach fundamentals he once took for granted.
• Bonnington praised Antonelli's dual nature: a youthful, energetic team unifier who plays pranks, but who knows when to seriously focus and work hard.
• He sees a champion's raw talent in Antonelli, comparing him to the innate extra pace possessed by legends like Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, whom Bono also worked with.
• The engineer framed their partnership as Antonelli placing faith in Bono's experience while Bono guides him "step-by-step through the process of how we become a champion."

What's next:

For Bonnington and Antonelli, the first win is just the initial milestone. The focus now shifts to the long-term project of consistently developing that raw speed and racecraft into a championship-contending package. Bono's role as mentor will be crucial in shaping Antonelli's career, aiming to replicate the success he engineered with Hamilton.