After working with the same team for so many years, it takes time to adjust to a change like the one Mercedes is experiencing. This was evident during Saturday’s Chinese GP when Peter Bonnington momentarily “mistook” Lewis Hamilton for Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian driver, after just one season in Formula 2, was chosen by Toto Wolff to replace the seven-time world champion, not without controversy. However, in these early races, the number 12 is proving the talent he has long been credited with, making many reconsider their doubts.
In Australia, despite a Q1 issue that compromised his qualifying, Antonelli managed to finish fourth, even under challenging conditions. Further confirmation has come from the Shanghai weekend, where the new Mercedes driver finished seventh in the Sprint Race before reaching Q3 for the first time in his career.
Peter Bonnington’s radio mistake
During Saturday’s Chinese GP, Kimi Antonelli was at the center of a curious incident involving his engineer Bono and Lewis Hamilton.
“Okay, got it, Lewis. Uh, I mean, got it, Kimi,” Peter Bonnington said over the radio, slipping up in a moment that quickly spread across social media.
The episode further highlights the special bond between Bono and Hamilton. The British driver himself confirmed it during Ferrari’s ceremony in Milan, where he asked Tifosi for help in finding a new phrase to replace the now-famous “Hammertime.”
Bono accidentally calling Kimi ‘Lewis’ 😭🥹 omg- pic.twitter.com/XH5Fj05V6I
— deni (@fiagirly) March 22, 2025
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