Jenson Button has pointed to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s relaxed mentality as a significant factor in his 2026 Formula 1 championship lead. The 2009 world champion noted the rookie’s calm demeanour contrasts with the pressure affecting other drivers on the grid.
Button highlighted the advantage of Antonelli’s youth and freshness in the sport. He observed that for the young Italian, everything is still exciting. This creates a different atmosphere compared to more experienced competitors who understand a title opportunity may not come again.
According to Button, Antonelli is ‘just good at having fun, and it’s awesome to see’. He described the championship leader as being ‘very relaxed, loose with everything’, which he sees as a distinct advantage in a high-pressure environment.
The former champion also identified the crucial role of race engineer Pete ‘Bono’ Bonnington. Bonnington, who engineered both Button and Lewis Hamilton to titles, is seen as a calming and effective influence on the Mercedes rookie.
‘People don’t understand how important the relationship is between an engineer and a driver. Bono is a really good influence on Kimi. They obviously have a good rapport.’
This partnership has proven effective, with Antonelli securing six victories in the opening ten races of the season. The Italian currently holds a substantial lead in the Drivers’ Standings heading into the summer break.
His performance contrasts with that of teammate George Russell, who won the opening race but has since faced difficulties. Russell has struggled with inconsistent energy deployment, a problem not affecting Antonelli to the same degree.
Button suggested the Mercedes W17 may have developed in a direction less suited to Russell’s driving style. Meanwhile, Antonelli has adapted quickly, building a strong championship campaign on the foundation of the team’s competitive start to the new regulations.
Antonelli himself believes his success is down to consistency and avoiding errors. He stated that making the fewest mistakes is what has allowed him and the team to achieve strong results and build their current championship position.
Earlier in the season, Button had already praised Antonelli’s raw pace. He commented that if the rookie could improve his race starts, where he was losing positions, he would become ‘unstoppable’.
Following a tactical drive to a podium finish at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, Antonelli further extended his championship advantage.
