Pete Bonnington has singled out the Monaco, Monza and Austin Grands Prix as the defining performances in Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 title-winning season. The Mercedes race engineer said the three drives helped demonstrate the consistency and ability that carried the Italian to the championship.
Antonelli secured the Drivers’ Championship after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix. His nine race victories and title made him the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
Bonnington described Monaco as especially memorable, saying Antonelli’s performance earned the respect of his fellow drivers. He recalled the Italian’s pace at Monza as an emphatic display, while he praised the Austin race as a champion’s drive. Antonelli managed the pressure of a one-stop strategy against rivals making two stops, kept setting strong lap times and finished on top.
Bonnington also pointed to performances at Silverstone and Barcelona, noting that Antonelli’s progress was built on repeated results across different circuits and conditions, including challenges with overheating and tyre warm-up.
The engineer, who worked with Lewis Hamilton during the Briton’s six championship seasons with Mercedes between 2014 and 2020, continued in his role when Antonelli joined the team as a rookie in 2025. He said the Italian’s light-hearted approach had helped create an environment where the pair could speak openly, while also helping Antonelli stay focused and recover from setbacks.
Reflecting on the championship, Bonnington called Antonelli’s achievement “mind-blowing” and said the 20-year-old had matured during the season. He described him as a professional and a major talent who had grown into the role of world champion.
Sources: Formula 1.