via Getty
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP talks with race engineer Peter Bonnington during the red flag delay during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 18, 2021 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
via Getty
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP talks with race engineer Peter Bonnington during the red flag delay during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 18, 2021 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The word on the paddock is that Peter Bonnington will not be attending the 2022 Austrian GP. And as fans miss the familiarity of the well-loved Bono, Lewis Hamilton will have another voice in his ear this weekend- Marcus Dudley.
Dudley is Hamilton’s performance engineer with the Silver Arrows. Fans may have often spotted him receiving manufacturer trophies on the podium for the team. Further, this isn’t his first time taking Bono’s seat on the pit wall.
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In 2019, Bono couldn’t make it to the Brazilian GP- a very important race for Hamilton in terms of the championship. Yet, despite the pressure, Dudley shone through. The champion piled on praise for his impeccable performance: “Marcus stepped into big shoes. It’s not easy to work alongside a world champion in this sport, who generally demand quite a lot.”
Hamilton had revealed that he had worked with the number-two engineer behind the scenes, describing him as a laid-back person. The boss man himself had words to spare. “”It shows we have a strength, a deep strength in the team, and Bono stepping aside for one race and handing over the baton, Marcus did a really good job together with Dom”
Toto Wolff had also dubbed the engineer’s efforts as “phenomenal”- a reassuring statement for the fans worried about Bono this weekend.
F1 Fans worried for Lewis Hamilton Amid Bono’s absence
It’s safe to say the new voice on the airwaves left fans a little worried for their favorite race engineer.
maybe bono will come tomorrow maybe he is just only missing today… maybe he will be there tomorrow who knows pic.twitter.com/CR0ZQjkW5A
— iesh🍒 (@LEWISHAMIL7ON) July 8, 2022
Bono, my Bono's gone.
— CarLewis (@CultLH) July 8, 2022
i feel like bono brings lewis peace in the car and now he is not there im worried i hope he is ok pic.twitter.com/lzGdTVdnkd
— iesh🍒 (@LEWISHAMIL7ON) July 8, 2022
Team LH hearing Lewis’s radio and it’s not bono’s voice : pic.twitter.com/aZ51KngCiz
— mercedes.f1motorsports (@MF1motorsports) July 8, 2022
Where is bono cancel the race
— honest hamrussy fan (@lewisdelrey) July 8, 2022
Bestie people are crying shaking throwing up, where’s your rockstar Bono? @MercedesAMGF1
— Fari (@faribti) July 8, 2022
While some rued the empty seat, others took on the role of detective. Some blamed Helmut Marko, while others found a more innocent person… a pup of interest.
Bono was last seen with roscoe who wanted to be the chief engineer and now bono has disappeared. Coincidence? I think not 🧐 pic.twitter.com/Qg76ISZmrS
— hifzah✨| LEWIS 💜 (@violet_graffiti) July 8, 2022
Helmut Marko was waffling abt Bono yesterday and now Bono is missing?yeah search his home NEOW.
— iesh🍒 (@LEWISHAMIL7ON) July 8, 2022
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To put it simply, this fan’s call to Bonnington summarizes all the emotions:
Bono come home kids are terrified
— honest hamrussy fan (@lewisdelrey) July 8, 2022
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As the mystery of the missing Race Engineer continues, Lewis Hamilton is in expert hands with Marcus Dudley. A man with experience and poise, surely Bono will return home to everything as it was; and possibly another trophy on the shelf?
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