Jenson Button says Peter Bonnington could be giving Kimi Antonelli an edge while Mercedes appears to be drifting away from George Russell's preferred setup. The 2009 champion also believes the car now asks for a different approach from what Russell wants. That leaves Mercedes with two drivers feeling the same machine in different ways.
Kimi Antonelli and Peter Bonnington
Button was direct about the pairing. "I think people don't understand how important the relationship is between an engineer and a driver." He added: "Yes, I do think Bono is a really good influence on Kimi."
Antonelli sits 40 points ahead of Russell after the Austrian Grand Prix, and Button's view is that the engineering link helps explain part of that gap. Antonelli has been described as relaxed and unfazed by the title battle, which fits a run in which he has looked more settled than in the European leg of the calendar last season.
George Russell in Mercedes
Button's sharper point was about Russell. "It does feel that the car has gone a little bit away from what George's style requires and I don't know if he has the backing from his engineer, I don't know his engineer, the backing from his engineer to be brave enough to go and try something different."
He also said: "Their driving style is completely different, so you need to try other things if you want to get the best out of the car for your style of driving." That is the clash inside Mercedes now. One driver looks aligned with the direction, while the other may need the setup moved back toward his own preferences.
Silverstone and the sprint format
The timing adds weight to the discussion. The sprint format returns to Silverstone for the first time since the inaugural event in 2021, and Mercedes will get another live test of whether its current balance suits Antonelli more than Russell.
Button worked with Bonnington during his championship-winning season in 2009, and Bonnington later stayed with Brawn before becoming race engineer for Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. That track record is why Button sees the engineer-driver bond as central rather than decorative.
For Mercedes, the practical question is simple: keep leaning into the setup that has helped Antonelli or make changes that give Russell a better platform again. The answer will shape how the Brackley-based squad approaches Silverstone and, beyond that, the W17 during the European part of the season.
