Riccardo Patrese believes Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s relentless curiosity and his relationship with race engineer Peter Bonnington are two of the key ingredients behind the Italian driver’s remarkable 2026 Formula 1 season.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been one of the major stories of F1 2026, putting himself in a strong position in the Drivers’ Championship at the age of just 20 and in only his second season at the highest level. His campaign has been remarkably consistent, although qualifying in Baku finally produced what could be considered his first significant mistake of the year.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli hit the barrier at Turn 1 during Q1, damaging the suspension and leaving himself 16th on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix starting grid. The setback came after a season in which the Mercedes driver had repeatedly delivered at the front, including performances that have already placed him alongside major names in Formula 1 history. His progress can also be seen in the current Formula 1 driver standings.
Riccardo Patrese highlights Kimi Antonelli’s curiosity
Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese believes one of the defining characteristics behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s progress is his desire to understand every detail of the car and constantly push the people around him for improvements.
“What makes Kimi so good is his great curiosity, he wants to know everything about his car,” Riccardo Patrese told talkSPORT BET. “He has always been curious; he always pushes to the maximum. That’s how you have to behave. Sometimes he exaggerates a little, but you really need to put pressure on the people around you and those working with you. That’s how you have to behave.”
“And then you have to spend a lot of time with the mechanics and engineers to improve things. As I said, that’s what Hamilton is doing now at Ferrari.”
That approach has accompanied a season in which Andrea Kimi Antonelli has repeatedly demonstrated the competitiveness of the Mercedes package. His success has contributed to questions over just how dominant the Mercedes W17 has become during the 2026 campaign.
Peter Bonnington seen as another major advantage
Riccardo Patrese also pointed to another important factor: Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s partnership with Peter Bonnington, the highly experienced race engineer who previously worked with Lewis Hamilton.
For Riccardo Patrese, having an engineer of that calibre alongside a young driver can make a considerable difference, particularly when it comes to decision-making, feedback and communication during races.
“But there’s also another thing,” Riccardo Patrese added. “He has something that I always lacked in my career, which is having an exceptional race engineer. He has Peter Bonnington, who was Hamilton’s engineer. He is extremely important for Kimi.”
“He is always talking to him. He has enormous experience and gives Kimi the right advice, always at the right moment, even during a race. So that is another key point in Kimi’s favour. He has an exceptional race engineer.”
Kimi Antonelli’s Baku mistake interrupts an exceptional run
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend nevertheless delivered a rare setback. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Q1 accident at Turn 1 damaged the Mercedes suspension and meant he would start only 16th, an unusual position for a driver who has spent much of the season fighting at the front.
The mistake does not change the broader picture outlined by Riccardo Patrese. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s technical curiosity, willingness to work closely with engineers and mechanics, and access to Peter Bonnington’s experience are, in Patrese’s view, important reasons why the young Italian has reached such a high level so quickly.
Those qualities have helped make Andrea Kimi Antonelli one of the defining figures of Mercedes’ 2026 campaign, with his achievements already producing notable statistical milestones during only his second Formula 1 season, including a remarkable record haul following his Madrid victory.
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