Toto Wolff reveals what makes Peter 'Bono' Bonnington a 'superstar'

Following Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes, Bonnington was handed another potential future champion to guide. After spending his rookie season learning the ropes, the Italian has taken a remarkable step forward in 2026, racking up five victories and a second-place finish in the opening seven races. Only a retirement in Spain managed to halt what had otherwise been an extraordinary run of form.

Speaking to GPBlog among other media after the Spanish Grand Prix, Wolff was full of praise for Bonnington, describing him as one of the standout figures in the paddock. The Mercedes boss highlighted his vast experience working alongside some of the sport's biggest names, from Schumacher to Hamilton and now Antonelli, while praising his unique ability to combine technical expertise with a strong understanding of the human side of the job.

According to Wolff, Bonnington's greatest strengths lie in his balance between data-driven engineering and the support he provides drivers when they need it most. He also pointed to his patience, an essential quality when working with elite athletes, while stressing that Bonnington is equally capable of being firm when necessary. Wolff believes that ability to command respect, set clear boundaries and build strong relationships with drivers is what makes him the best race engineer in Formula 1.

Toto Wolff admitted Mercedes are facing important questions following the Spanish Grand Prix, both in terms of reliability and how the team manages its drivers on track. The Austrian was particularly frustrated by another costly retirement, stressing that repeated mechanical failures are damaging the team's championship ambitions and must be addressed as a priority.

Mercedes chose not to intervene and allowed both drivers to race freely, in line with the team's long-standing philosophy. Nevertheless, Wolff acknowledged that the situation could force the team to reassess its approach in future races, particularly when one driver is clearly faster than the other and the result could have a significant impact on Mercedes' objectives.

With the battle at the front becoming increasingly competitive, Wolff suggested discussions will take place internally to determine how similar situations should be handled going forward. Any decision, he stressed, would be made with complete transparency and with the interests of the team as the overriding priority: "It's a situation we need to look into for the future with both drivers how to handle a situation where there's a pace differential. If we are fighting for a victory or the risk of losing a victory, and that's going to be an interesting discussion, but always totally transparent to the best interest of the team."