Hamilton messaged absent F1 race engineer about car set-up in Mexico
Lewis Hamilton says he has been texting his absent long-term Mercedes race engin💧eer Pete Bonnington about his Formula 1 car’s set-up at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Bonnington, who is referred to as ‘Bono’ within Mercedes’ ranks, has🍸 worked alongside Hamilton throughout his seven-year tenure at the German manufacturer, with the pair striking up a formidable partnership that has yielded four of the Briton’s five world championship titles.
Lewis Hamilton says he has been texting his absent long-term Mercedes race en🍨gineer Pete Bonnington about his Formula 1 car’s set📖-up at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Bonnington, who is referred to as ‘Bono’ within Mercedes’ ran🐻ks, has worked alongside Hamilton t🌼hroughout his seven-year tenure at the German manufacturer, with the pair striking up a formidable partnership that has yielded four of the Briton’s five world championship titles.
But for the next two races in Mexico and the United States, Hamilton is being engineered by his performance engineer Marcus Dudley while Bonnington remains in the UK fo🔴llowing a medical procedure.
Des꧟pᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚite his absence from the Mexico City paddock, Hamilton said he and Bonnington have remained in contact over the weekend and exchanged messages regarding his W10’s set-up before qualifying.
“Bono has been there with me for seven years, so it’s the longest working relationship that I’ve had with an engin༺eer,” Hamilဣton explained.
“It definit🌠ely feels weird coming into this weekend knowing that we’ve experienced so much together and achieved so much together.
“But he’s here with us in spirit and he’s worked so hard last week, along with Marcus, who has done a fantastic job so far this weekend, he’s rea💜lly stepped up to the plate.
“It’s going to be quite nerve-wracking because those are quite big shoes to fill. But the guys are really taking it𓆉 in their strid🀅e.
“I’ve worked really closely with Bono and even before qualifying I was texting Bono just talking about set-up, so he’s still within it but just a bit bored on his couch,” he ad𓂃ded.
“He’s at the factory but hopefully he’ll make🥀 it to the next race because the relationship is really important and communication is really key.
“The pre♏ssure is immense for all of us, and it’s definitely not easy being the number one but Bono manages it really well.
“Marcus has jumped in and⭕ immediately feel the pressure. I don’t try to put pressure on buဣt naturally it’s a pressured environment, but he seems to have taken it in his stride.”
Hamil💃ton,💫 who starts third on the grid for Sunday’s 71-lap Mexican Grand Prix, can clinch a sixth drivers’ world title if he outscores Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by at least 14 points.
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