“Bono Should Think of His Future in F1”: Fans Left Heartbroken as Lewis Hamilton’s Iconic Engineer Can’t Accompany Him in 2025

Lewis Hamilton, the 7-time Formula 1 champion, is set for a big move from Mercedes to Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, ending his remarkable 12-year journey with the Silver Arrows. Soon after the shocking move was made public, speculation arose that Hamilton might bring some of his trusted allies from Mercedes along with him to Ferrari, including his long-time race engineer Peter Bonnington. However, we later learned that Hamilton is prohibited from requesting his key Mercedes allies to join him at Ferrari due to a clause in his contract signed last year. And Ferrari has now confirmed that Carlos Sainz‘s race engineer, Ricciardo Adami, will partner with the 7x champ at Ferrari.

This means that Hamilton will have to bid farewell to his most trusted race engineer Peter Bonnington, affectionately known as ‘Bono’. Bonnington, who also worked with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, has been Hamilton’s main race engineer throughout his Mercedes tenure.

On the flip side, Ferrari is confident in its choice of pairing Hamilton with Riccardo Adami, an engineer known for his expertise and calm demeanor. Adami’s ability to remain composed even in high-pressure situations has earned him respect within the team. He’s been with Ferrari since 2015, initially joining to support 4-time champion, Sebastian Vettel. Adami’s recent success includes mentoring young driver Oliver Bearman in his F1 debut in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating his knack for providing both technical and emotional support. With Adami at the helm, Ferrari appears ready to entrust him with managing one of the most successful drivers in F1 history.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton Wins F1-Transcending Powerhouse Title at GQ Global Creativity Awards

However, that’s not the emotion shared by the Lewis Hamilton army, as they remain heartbroken with the prospect of Hamilton and ‘Bono’ parting ways.

Lewis Hamilton fans express remorse at the announcement of his new race engineer

As soon as news of Lewis Hamilton and Ricciardo Adami’s pairing was shared on X, fans took to the comments section to express their discontent with the development.

One fan expressed concerns about Peter Bonnington’s future in Formula 1 now that Lewis Hamilton is moving to Ferrari.

Another fan felt saddened by the thought of Hamilton transitioning from Bonnington’s famous phrases like ‘ok Lewis it’s Hammertime’ to Riccardo Adami’s more straightforward instructions like ‘mode push’.

Another fan echoed the statement, saying that without Bonnington, Hamilton’s signature ‘Hammer time’ won’t feel the same even if Adami picks it up from Bono.

For others, the bond between Hamilton and Bonnington feels irreplaceable.

Another fan expressed doubts about Adami’s ability to fill Bonnington’s shoes, citing concerns about Ferrari’s pitwall communication and race strategy compared to Mercedes.

Do you think Adami and Hamilton will get along nicely? Will Lewis be able to uplift the Ferrari strategy team, an aspect the Scuderia has struggled with over the past few years? Share your insights in the comments down below.