Peter Bonnington, Lewis Hamilton’s trusted race engineer, will remain with Mercedes in 2025, taking on a new role as head of race engineering.
Despite Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, Bonnington won’t be joining him. Instead, he will continue with Mercedes, overseeing one of their drivers next year while also transitioning into his new leadership role.
Bonnington, often referred to as ‘Bono,’ has been with Hamilton since the latter’s move to Mercedes in 2013. Their partnership has been integral to Hamilton’s six Drivers’ Championships and seven Constructors’ titles.
As Bonnington takes on his new responsibilities, he will still support Hamilton until the season’s end.
“It’s an emotional one. It’s been a long, long time, and he and I have been working hard trying to get back there,” Bonnington said after Hamilton’s win at the British Grand Prix in July, his first victory in over two years.
“I wouldn’t say crying, I had something in my eye,” he joked.
Mercedes’ decision to retain Bonnington comes as no surprise, given his deep-rooted history with the team, which dates back to 2006 when he first joined the Brackley squad. His move mirrors that of Red Bull’s Gianpiero Lambiase, who was promoted to head of race engineering while continuing to work with Max Verstappen.
The continuity within Mercedes’ engineering team is crucial, especially as Hamilton embarks on a new chapter at Ferrari. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, acknowledged the need for discussions earlier this year when Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was announced.
“I think this is a discussion which everyone needs to have in the months to come,” Wolff mentioned, noting that Bonnington’s role would be a key topic.
Bonnington’s voice has been synonymous with Hamilton’s success, with memorable radio calls like ‘OK Lewis, it’s Hammertime’ becoming iconic during their years of dominance. As Hamilton moves to Ferrari, he will be paired with a new race engineer, with Ferrari likely opting for someone familiar with the team.
