In a touching moment that underscored his deep connection to Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton expressed profound pride and warmth watching his former race engineer Peter “Bono” Bonnington and young driver Kimi Antonelli celebrate Antonelli’s historic Sprint pole position at the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, 2025. The seven-time world champion, now racing for Ferrari after a storied 12-year tenure with Mercedes, took to social media and post-race interviews to share how the milestone resonated with him, highlighting the emotional ties he still holds to his former team.
Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian prodigy who replaced Hamilton at Mercedes, etched his name in Formula 1 history by becoming the youngest pole-sitter ever during Sprint Qualifying at the Miami International Autodrome. His stunning lap time of 1:26.482 outpaced McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, in a fiercely competitive session. The achievement was a seismic moment for the teenager, who has been under intense scrutiny since joining Mercedes’ junior program at age 12. For Hamilton, witnessing Antonelli’s breakthrough alongside familiar faces like Bono and team principal Toto Wolff was a poignant reminder of his own journey with the Silver Arrows.
“I saw the video of Bono and Kimi and Toto, and it genuinely just brought warmth to my heart,” Hamilton said in an interview with Formula 1’s official website, reflecting on a clip that captured the trio’s jubilant reaction. “I’ve been with that team for a long, long time, and Bono is just the best. To see them continue to work hard and get a pole—it kind of silences all the critics. I love to see that in an underdog. It’s such a great story.” Hamilton’s comments came after he reposted the video on his Instagram Stories, captioning it with praise for Antonelli and his former team: “Amazing lap @kimi.antonelli, so happy for you guys
@mercedesamgf1!”
The pole position marked a high point in Antonelli’s rookie season, which has seen him outperform Hamilton in five of the first six races of 2025. Despite losing the lead at Turn 1 to Piastri in the Sprint race and later colliding with Verstappen in the pits due to an unsafe release by Red Bull, Antonelli’s qualifying performance showcased his raw talent and potential. Hamilton, who finished third in the Sprint after a strategic early switch to slick tires, acknowledged the significance of Antonelli’s achievement, especially given the doubts surrounding Mercedes’ decision to promote a relatively inexperienced driver over more seasoned options.
“Bono is just the best, and I know there was a lot of question marks around whether or not to take on a more experienced driver,” Hamilton noted. “To then go out and deliver like that—it’s incredible.” His words carried weight, as Hamilton himself left a handwritten note for Antonelli upon departing Mercedes, welcoming the teenager to the team and emphasizing the supportive culture he was entering. That note, now preserved under glass, has become a symbol of the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
For Hamilton, the Miami weekend was a mix of personal highs and challenges. While he celebrated Antonelli’s success, he faced frustrations with Ferrari, finishing eighth in the Grand Prix after a radio spat over team orders involving teammate Charles Leclerc. Hamilton’s competitive fire was evident as he criticized Ferrari’s strategy, but his comments about Antonelli revealed a softer, reflective side. “I posted because it made me… I saw that moment, and it just felt right to share it,” he said, underscoring the genuine emotion behind his tribute.
Antonelli, for his part, remained focused on his growth, expressing relief at avoiding a major incident with Verstappen and emphasizing his increasing comfort with the Mercedes car. “Every weekend I get more confident, can play with it more, and explore the limits,” he told Autosport. His third-place qualifying for the main Grand Prix further cemented his promise, even as team principal Wolff noted areas for improvement in racecraft.