Mercedes 'prank war' between Antonelli and Bonnington catches Hamilton’s eye

To mark 'Bono'’s birthday, the Italian driver — who inherited his experience following Lewis Hamilton’s departure last year — decided to celebrate in playful fashion, repeatedly spraying him with a water gun while showing off some surprisingly good aim.

The British engineer then sought “revenge” by having hot sauce added to Antonelli’s drink bottle — something the driver clearly did not appreciate, judging by his reaction and remarks.

“I can’t eat spicy — even the smallest bit, I just can’t. I’m literally sweating. My chest is burning,” Antonelli said, making it clear he struggles badly with spicy flavours.

The entire scene, shared across Mercedes’ social media channels, also featured Hamilton in the video, as he watched on and enjoyed the playful back-and-forth between Antonelli and his former race engineer.

Speaking to GPblog among other media, the Briton expressed strong belief in the young Italian, highlighting Antonelli as one of the most exciting prospects for Formula 1’s future.

He said he expects Antonelli to make a significant step forward this season, pointing to the driver’s clear potential and noting how quickly talents can reach a top level — citing the rapid progress made by Piastri as an example. He also stressed the respect he has long held for Antonelli, adding that he anticipates a strong challenge from him over the course of the year.