Ferrari's Hamilton Conundrum: Who Will Replace... as Lewis's

Ferrari’s Hamilton Conundrum: Who Will Replace Bonnington as Lewis’s Trusted Race Engineer

Pete Bonnington, Lewis Hamilton’s trusted race engineer, has committed his future to Mercedes despite Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari in 2025. Bonnington has been promoted to head of race engineering, a role that will see him oversee the team’s engineering efforts while continuing to work with one of Mercedes’ drivers in 2025.

With 12 years of experience as Hamilton’s race engineer, Bonnington has played a crucial role in the team’s success, including six Drivers’ Championships and seven Constructors’ titles.

His promotion is a testament to his expertise and dedication, and Mercedes is keen to retain his services.

Bonnington will continue to work with Hamilton for the remainder of the 2024 season before transitioning into his new role. His experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the team as they seek to maintain their competitive edge.

The arrangement is similar to the one Red Bull has with Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who was promoted to head of race engineering while continuing to work with Verstappen.

This approach allows teams to retain key personnel while also developing their skills and expertise.

Bonnington’s history with Mercedes dates back to 2006, when he joined Honda as an understudy to Andrew Shovlin.

He worked with Jenson Button before the team’s transition to Brawn GP and subsequent takeover by Mercedes. His loyalty and commitment to the team have earned him a new challenge, and he is poised to play a key role in Mercedes’ future success.