Lewis Hamilton’s recent reunion with his former Mercedes race engineer Peter Bonnington has reignited calls among Formula 1 fans for an immediate reunion at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion, now competing for Ferrari, has faced a tough transition in the 2025 season, prompting supporters to urge a reconsideration of his engineering support.
Fans Rally for Hamilton and Bonnington to Reunite
After more than a decade working side by side at Mercedes, Hamilton and Bonnington have been separated since the start of this year when Hamilton moved to Ferrari. The champion was recently seen alongside Bonnington, affectionately known as “Bono,” in Ferrari team colors, a moment captured and widely shared on social media. Fans quickly flooded comment sections, expressing a strong desire to see the pair working together again.
One fan wrote,
“Please put these two back together next season!”
while others echoed the sentiment with similar enthusiasm. Another commented, “Staff poaching caught red handed,” reflecting the tension around team loyalty and personnel moves. Additional fans urged Bonnington directly, with messages like,
“Bono, come on my guy, just come over to Ferrari for a couple years,”
and
“Come and join me, Bono…….you know it makes sense.”
Reasons Behind Bonnington Staying at Mercedes
Although Bonnington and Hamilton’s partnership brought multiple championships, Bonnington decided not to follow Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025. Instead, he remains at Mercedes, taking on the role of race engineer for new driver Kimi Antonelli. Hamilton explained the choice during an interview with Sky Sports, citing the personal and professional impact of such a move.
He shared,
“I knew it would be an unlikely scenario that he would go with me because it’s such a drastic change for his life. But I’m really happy that the team have acknowledged and made changes, so he can grow more.”
—Lewis Hamilton
This decision underscores the challenges involved in relocating not just for an individual, but also for their family and partner, further complicating changes mid-career.
Current Challenges with Hamilton’s Ferrari Engineering Team
At Ferrari, Hamilton’s race engineer is Riccardo Adami, known for his previous work with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. However, the communication between Hamilton and Adami has struggled at times, resulting in awkward exchanges such as Hamilton’s now-famous “take a tea break” remark and prolonged silences during races. These difficulties have only fueled fan nostalgia for the strong bond Hamilton shared with Bonnington, who was often praised for his steady guidance over the radio.
Many F1 observers believe that restoring Hamilton’s connection with a trusted engineer like Bonnington could help him better adapt to the new team environment. With the ongoing pressure of maintaining top performance at Ferrari, the engineering relationship remains a crucial factor in Hamilton’s pursuit of further success.
The Wider Impact on Hamilton’s Racing Future
This situation comes amid other notable F1 developments, including speculation around driver line-ups and team changes, with names like George Russell and Sebastian Vettel also in the spotlight. Hamilton’s potential collaborations and team dynamics will continue to be a focal point for fans and analysts alike as the 2025 season progresses.
Ultimately, the calls for a “Lewis Hamilton reunion F1 switch” highlight the importance of trusted partnerships in motorsport and the challenges drivers face when entering new phases of their careers. Whether Ferrari will respond to these fan demands remains to be seen, but the discussion clearly shows how pivotal the right team support is for a champion’s success.
