Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes race engineer Peter Bonnington has been promoted to go of race engineering and can stick with the Method 1 group in 2025.
Bonnington will dovetail his new position together with his current race engineering duties for Hamilton till the tip of the season.
A Mercedes spokesperson has confirmed the 49-year-old will stick with the group in 2025 as Hamilton departs to Ferrari, turning into the race engineer for one among Mercedes’ two drivers subsequent yr.
Bonnington turned Hamilton’s race engineer in 2013 when the latter joined from McLaren, having beforehand labored with Michael Schumacher on the Brackley-based squad.
Hamilton and Bonnington went on to forge a formidable partnership on the group, with Bonnington in Hamilton’s nook all through his six world championships with the Silver Arrows.
As Hamilton introduced his shock change to Ferrari firstly of this yr, questions had been raised on whether or not or not his trusted ally would be a part of the seven-time world champion in Maranello, however that door has now closed.
Peter Bonnington, Senior Race Engineer, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Hamilton will nonetheless encounter acquainted faces in Italy, with former Mercedes engineer Loic Serra set to hitch the Scuderia as Head of Chassis Efficiency Engineering in October.
Ferrari group boss Fred Vasseur additionally enjoys a fantastic relationship with the 39-year-old from their time at junior method outfit ART Grand Prix.
Hamilton will even be re-united at Ferrari together with his former Mercedes efficiency engineer Jock Clear, who labored with Hamilton in his first two years at Mercedes.
Bonnington final joined Hamilton on a grand prix podium at July’s British Grand Prix, the place Hamilton took first win in two and a half years.
“I wouldn’t say crying, I had one thing in my eye,” Bonnington, nicknamed Bono, advised Sky Sports activities concerning the emotionally charged dwelling win.
“It’s an emotional one. It’s been an extended, very long time, and he and I’ve been working onerous attempting to get again there. Child steps, nevertheless it’s taken a whole lot of them to this point.”
Mercedes has gained three of the final 4 grands prix – with two wins for Hamilton and one for team-mate George Russell – because the 2024 F1 season will get again beneath method this weekend at Zandvoort.
