Lewis Hamilton mentioned listening to race engineer Pete Bonnington gee him up with their well-known “hammertime” catchphrase one final time was a poignant second as he departs Mercedes for Ferrari.
Hamilton and his long-time engineer Bonnington, or Bono for brief, cast a formidable partnership at Mercedes that led to 6 drivers’ titles and helped the Brackley-based squad win eight constructors’ crowns on the trot between 2014 and 2021.
Their trademark “hammertime” phrase, utilized by Bono when Hamilton wanted to pump out a string of qualifying laps throughout a race, quickly made it into the general public area however noticed much less use this season as Hamilton and Mercedes went by way of a marketing campaign with some ups but additionally loads of downs.
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Their partnership has now come to a conclusion, with Hamilton leaving for Ferrari and Bonnington staying at Mercedes. However because the seven-time world champion ended his Mercedes profession with a gritty comeback drive from sixteenth to fourth in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton mentioned getting fired up by his trusted race engineer one final time was a very poignant second.
When requested by Motorsport.com if listening to “hammertime” one final time geed him up much more than it often did, he smiled: “I seen that as we speak. When he informed me, I used to be like ‘I can’t even bear in mind the final time he informed me hammertime’.
“I bear in mind I informed Bono to say hammertime again within the first yr collectively. I used to be like, ‘Don’t simply inform me to go quicker, inform me it’s hammertime and I do know what it’s’.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce, alongside colleagues, together with Peter Bonnington, Senior Race Engineer, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce
Picture by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photos
Hamilton paid tribute to his long-time ally, who he mentioned has grow to be considered one of his finest mates through the years.
“What a rollercoaster journey I’ve had with Bono,” Hamilton added. “He’s been considered one of my closest mates for a few years.
“It’s one thing I didn’t count on to have as a result of he labored with Michael Schumacher, he’s labored with nice drivers and for the longest time he’s stood by me.
“For an engineer to stay by somebody, as irritating and painful as it might probably generally be – he’s stood by me each single day with out fail.”
On this article
Filip Cleeren
System 1
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
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