2026 is a memorable year for Kimi Antonelli, who has managed to lead the Formula 1 standings thanks, in part, to the guidance of Peter Bonnington, his race engineer. Rob Smedley, a former F1 engineer, has highlighted that Bonnington has been essential in this title chase, emphasizing that while the final credit belongs to Antonelli, the technical support he receives is fundamental.
After achieving consecutive victories in the Chinese Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix, Antonelli has not only demonstrated his ability but has also exceeded expectations for a 20-year-old driver. He has already accumulated eight victories, increasing his lead in the standings to 81 points ahead of his teammate, George Russell.
In an episode of the High Performance Racing podcast, Smedley commented on Bonnington’s role, who has worked with legendary drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. He jokingly said that «the engineer should receive all the credit» since «without him, these drivers would be nothing».
In a more serious reflection, Smedley acknowledged that Bonnington provides Antonelli with all the necessary information to stay focused on the track. Smedley concluded: «Kimi is the one who has to do it every Sunday».
Otmar Szafnauer, former director of Alpine and co-host of the podcast, added that Antonelli actively participates in the feedback process, indicating to Bonnington what he needs to perform at his best. Antonelli himself considered that working with Bonnington is a true privilege, remembering his experience and the knowledge accumulated over the years with elite drivers.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
