Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer Peter Bonnington surprised him ahead of his move to Ferrari. Known as Bono, Bonnington appeared in Hamilton’s Tommy Hilfiger outfit, leaving the seven-time world champion in awe.
Hamilton bid farewell to Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ending his nearly decade-long partnership with Bonnington. As he prepares to join Ferrari, the race engineer surprised him by donning his iconic Tommy Hilfiger outfit, resulting in Hamilton’s surprise.
Hamilton shared photos with Bonnington on his Instagram with the caption:
“Two legends. Bono and Tommy.”
Hamilton will join Ferrari next season after signing a multi-year deal earlier this year. Despite the contractual terms, he chose to race for Ferrari starting from 2025.
After a successful 12-year stint with Mercedes, Hamilton leaves behind a legacy of six F1 titles, 84 victories, 78 pole positions, and 78 podium finishes. The Mercedes team, including teammate George Russell and team principal Toto Wolff, bid farewell to the departing driver.
Hamilton will reunite with his former F2 team boss Fred Vasseur and driver Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, replacing Carlos Sainz, who moved to Williams.
Lewis Hamilton Reflects on Relationship with Peter Bonnington
Prior to his move to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton opened up about his close bond with race engineer Peter Bonnington, who has been his partner since 2013.
“What a roller-coaster ride it’s been with Bono, he’s been one of my closest friends for many years and it is something I didn’t expect to have because he worked with Michael Schumacher and other great drivers,” Hamilton expressed.
“But he stood by me every single day without fail, despite the challenges. I value our partnership immensely,” he added.
The phrase ‘Hammer-Time’ coined by Hamilton and Bonnington has become iconic in the F1 paddock, symbolizing their working relationship.
Edited by Shirsh
