Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s impressive rise at Mercedes has quickly turned him from promising young talent into one of the standout stories of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and according to Juan Pablo Montoya, one key figure inside the Brackley team deserves significant credit for that progress.
After attracting enormous attention at the start of the campaign, the 19-year-old Italian has steadily developed into a genuine front-running force. Antonelli has shown increasing consistency, growing confidence, and the kind of composure that has allowed him to move beyond early setbacks, including difficult moments such as his FP1 crash at Monza.
His progress has been so striking that Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already become the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history, while also strengthening his advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the drivers’ standings.
Juan Pablo Montoya highlights Peter Bonnington’s role
Speaking on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast alongside Damon Hill, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya identified Peter Bonnington as one of the most important influences behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s development at Mercedes.
Peter Bonnington, widely known throughout the Formula 1 paddock as “Bono,” is one of Mercedes’ most experienced and respected engineering figures. After working with Michael Schumacher during the German legend’s Formula 1 comeback, he later became Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, playing a central role in six of the seven-time world champion’s titles with Mercedes.
“I think Bono is a big part of all this,” Juan Pablo Montoya said. “He won so much with Lewis, and I think he’s shaping Kimi and working very closely with him.”
That kind of experience could be proving invaluable for a young driver learning how to manage the technical and psychological demands of competing at the highest level.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s aggressive driving style stands out
Juan Pablo Montoya also pointed to one of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s most distinctive qualities: his willingness to drive aggressively, especially over a single qualifying lap.
According to the former Colombian Grand Prix winner, Antonelli’s commitment behind the wheel is one of the clearest differences between him and many other drivers on the current Formula 1 grid: “One of the really positive things about Kimi is his level of aggression — he’s incredibly determined,” Juan Pablo Montoya explained. “If you watch him in qualifying, he uses every inch of the circuit compared to others. He’s extracting everything available.”
That fearless approach has helped Andrea Kimi Antonelli unlock extraordinary pace, although maintaining that edge consistently over a full championship season will remain one of the biggest tests of his career.
The internal Mercedes battle with George Russell
Juan Pablo Montoya also addressed the growing battle between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell inside Mercedes, expressing some surprise that the British driver has not yet found a stronger response.
From Juan Pablo Montoya’s perspective, George Russell has access to all the telemetry, onboard footage, and performance data needed to understand exactly where Andrea Kimi Antonelli is gaining an advantage.
“I’m surprised by George,” Juan Pablo Montoya added. “He has the videos, the data, and all the information to understand where Kimi is making the difference. At some point, you also have to try some of those things yourself. You might feel more or less comfortable doing it, but at least you have to attempt it for a lap and understand how to make it work.”
For Juan Pablo Montoya, that relentless willingness to search for the limit is exactly what is accelerating Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s development inside Mercedes. If that progression continues, the Italian may evolve from rising star into a genuine long-term Formula 1 championship force far sooner than many expected.
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