Mercedes Solidifies 2025 Driver-Engineer Pairings
Mercedes confirms Peter Bonnington will guide rookie Kimi Antonelli in 2025, while Marcus Dudley stays with George Russell. Separately, Juan Pablo Montoya revealed Helmut Marko once sent him to an "energy healer" due to his "speed and stupidity."
Mercedes has finalized its race engineer assignments for the 2025 season, ensuring continuity for George Russell while pairing rising star Kimi Antonelli with the highly experienced Peter "Bono" Bonnington. The move provides a stable foundation for the team as it navigates a significant driver lineup change following Lewis Hamilton's departure. In a lighter look back at Formula 1's eccentric past, Juan Pablo Montoya also shared a classic Helmut Marko story, revealing the advisor once sent him to an "energy healer."
Why it matters:
The driver-engineer relationship is one of the most critical partnerships in F1, directly impacting race strategy, car development, and driver confidence. Mercedes' decisions reflect a clear strategy to blend established stability with targeted support for their new rookie driver, minimizing disruption during a major transition period.
The details:
- George Russell: Will continue to work with Senior Race Engineer Marcus Dudley, maintaining their successful partnership from previous seasons.
- Kimi Antonelli: Will be guided by Peter "Bono" Bonnington, who moves over from his celebrated role with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
- This is a significant move, giving the 18-year-old rookie immediate access to one of the most experienced and successful minds on the grid.
- Bonnington's Dual Role: In addition to being Antonelli's race engineer, Bonnington will retain his position as Head of Race Engineering for the team, overseeing the broader trackside engineering strategy.
- Marko's Montoya Memory: Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya revealed that Helmut Marko once sent him to an "energy healer."
- Marko's reasoning was that Montoya's "speed and stupidity couldn't possibly coexist," suggesting he needed an unconventional solution to balance the driver's raw talent and perceived recklessness.
What's next:
All eyes will be on the dynamic between Bonnington and Antonelli when pre-season testing begins. The success of this pairing could be a critical factor in Mercedes' 2025 performance and how quickly their young driver can adapt to the pressures of F1. As for Marko, his reputation for unique and unorthodox management approaches remains firmly intact.