Lewis Hamilton Braces for New Chapter at Ferrari Without Long-Time Engineer Peter Bonnington

Lewis Hamilton will quickly determine if his new partnership with Ferrari's engineer will be successful.

Hamilton shares his thoughts on Peter Bonnington not accompanying him to Ferrari for the upcoming season.

Lewis Hamilton mentioned he will be able to tell "quite soon" if his partnership with his new Formula 1 race engineer at Ferrari is going to be successful.

The seven-time world champion is set to work with a fresh race engineer for the first time in over a decade, as he makes his high-profile move to Ferrari next season. This change comes as Peter Bonnington, his longtime race engineer, will not be accompanying Hamilton in this transition.

'Bono' has been elevated to the position of chief race engineer at Mercedes, indicating that the legendary duo's collaboration will come to an end once Hamilton departs from the team after 2024.

There's no official word on who will take up the role of Lewis Hamilton's engineer at Ferrari, but indications point towards Riccardo Adami, presently Carlos Sainz's engineer, stepping into the position to accommodate the 39-year-old British driver.

"Your team usually makes the decisions," Hamilton shared with media groups, including Crash.net, before the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend. "In my career, I've actually had two number ones. That's incorrect; there's been Philip Prew, Andy Lacombe, and another person.

Upon becoming a member of this team, I arrived while Bono held the position of lead engineer. It is essential to have a rapport with this person, as it's vital to form a bond and trust them effortlessly.

"The upcoming endeavor will essentially be an exploration. I'll quickly ascertain its viability. Communication, I believe, is key in this process."

In response to inquiries about discussions regarding his switch to Ferrari before January, Hamilton stated, "No. It's challenging. That definitely complicates things. I believe it's likely similar for anyone transitioning to a new office."

"You won't realize until you leave. The beginning of the upcoming year is expected to be quite burdensome."

Hamilton acknowledged his desire to keep working alongside Bono but emphasized his joy in witnessing his close colleague's advancement.

"Of course, I would have preferred to keep working with Bono. We share a strong bond. As you could tell from Silverstone, he's like family to me. However, I'm genuinely delighted for him," Hamilton expressed.

For me, it all boils down to individuals acting in their own best interest. One must do what's most beneficial for themselves. Deciding to move away, I presume, is no easy feat, affecting both him and his partner significantly. Thus, they must make the decision that is most suitable for him.

"I was aware that it would be a long shot for him to join me, given it represents a significant shift in his life. However, I'm genuinely pleased that the team has recognized and adapted this route within the team, allowing him to further develop with it."

"He's now in a position to further demonstrate his remarkable abilities. Regardless, our bond is eternal. We've discussed this. Our goal is to end things on a positive note."

Hamilton is set to reunite with previous collaborators at Ferrari, including Jock Clear, who contributed to Hamilton's engineering crew in 2013 and 2014, as well as team leader Fred Vasseur, who managed the ART Grand Prix squad that helped Hamilton secure the GP2 title in 2006.

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