Formula 1 history was rewritten when Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 title at the Mexican Grand Prix at the age of 20, in only his second season in F1. Now, as Motorsport.com reports, we finally know one of the mechanical secrets behind that stunning championship campaign.
Speaking on the NU Silver Arrows Radio Show, Mercedes technical director James Allison pulled back the curtain on the Italian driver's relentless speed. According to Allison, the young charger's blistering pace comes down to a remarkably bold approach to his machine's steering wheel controls, specifically brake migration and the differential.
Bono would probably tell you that it's been one of the most pleasurable seasons he's had,
"He is very, very agile" in how he manipulates these systems, Allison explained, noting that the driver takes the setup to quite extreme settings under his own steam. If the car exhibits unwanted understeer, he frees it up with the diff and brake migration to force it toward the apex. When the rear feels too lively, he simply closes it down to settle the machine.
That fearless mastery unlocks incredible lap time between the braking zone and the apex, all handled with a minimum of fuss. It makes the car remarkably flexible across changing conditions, giving the Mercedes beast an edge that has already translated into nine grands prix victories this year.
Even better, that precise entry work pays massive dividends when the race wears on. Allison pointed out that 20 laps into a stint, when rivals are forced to peel into the pits for fresh rubber, Antonelli's lap times simply level out, sparing his rear tyres from destructive wear over and over again.
Behind the scenes, that speed is matched by total harmony with his crew. Allison revealed an immense level of trust between the driver and his race engineer, Peter 'Bono' Bonnington, noting that the driver will often defer completely to the garage's judgment.
"Bono would probably tell you that it's been one of the most pleasurable seasons he's had," Allison concluded.
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