In a significant development for the Formula 1 world, Peter Bonnington, the trusted race engineer for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, has confirmed his decision to remain with Mercedes, despite months of speculation suggesting he might follow Hamilton to Ferrari. This announcement marks a pivotal moment for both Mercedes and Ferrari as they prepare for a major shift in the F1 landscape.
Bonnington, known affectionately as ‘Bono,’ has been a cornerstone of Hamilton’s success at Mercedes. Since joining the team in 2006, Bonnington has been integral to Hamilton’s journey, which has seen him win six of his seven titles with Mercedes. His deep understanding of Hamilton’s driving style and his strategic acumen have made him a crucial part of Hamilton’s team, and his role in their successes has been widely acknowledged.
With Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, rumors swirled about whether Bonnington would follow him. The speculation intensified after Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari was confirmed in February, raising questions about the future of his trusted race engineer. However, Bonnington has now put those rumors to rest by signing a new contract with Mercedes, ensuring his continued presence at the team.
Bonnington’s new role as the head of race engineering at Mercedes marks a significant career milestone. Effective immediately, Bonnington will continue his duties with Hamilton for the remainder of the season, while also stepping into his new leadership position. His dual role reflects the team’s confidence in his abilities and highlights his importance to Mercedes’ future strategy.
Looking ahead, Bonnington will retain a role as a race engineer for one of the team’s drivers next year. However, the exact details of this arrangement are still to be confirmed. Current speculation suggests that he may work with either George Russell, who currently works with Marcus Dudley, or potentially the highly touted Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is expected to join the team as a full-time driver.
Bonnington’s decision comes amidst a backdrop of uncertainty. A clause in Hamilton’s Mercedes contract reportedly prevents him from directly recruiting team members to Ferrari. Despite this, there was genuine concern within Mercedes about whether Bonnington would stay. Team principal Toto Wolff had previously acknowledged the potential for such a move, stating that it was a topic to be discussed further after Hamilton’s departure was confirmed.
Wolff had expressed some unease about Bonnington’s future, noting that while he had spoken to Bonnington about Hamilton’s move, the engineer had initially reacted with surprise. “I think this is a discussion which everyone needs to have in the months to come,” Wolff had said, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding Bonnington’s decision.
With Bonnington’s commitment, Mercedes solidifies its engineering team for the upcoming seasons, while Ferrari will need to find a new race engineer to support Hamilton. The likely candidate to take over Hamilton’s current role is Riccardo Adami, who currently works with Carlos Sainz. This transition will be a critical element in Ferrari’s strategy as they prepare for Hamilton’s arrival and aim to leverage his expertise in their quest for championship success.
As the 2025 season approaches, the focus will now shift to how both teams adapt to these changes. For Mercedes, Bonnington’s continued presence is a boost to their engineering team, while Ferrari will need to quickly integrate Hamilton and his new race engineer into their setup. The upcoming season promises to be a thrilling chapter in F1 history, with these pivotal changes setting the stage for dramatic developments on the track.
Leave a Reply