Mercedes admits that talks over race engineer Peter Bonnington’s Formula 1 future will be held following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari in 2025 – and it is speculated that more could follow.
Bonnington has been with the Brackley-based squad since it was known as Honda and has served as Hamilton’s race engineer from when he arrived at the team in 2013.
The 48-year-old, often referred to as ‘Bono’, has provided the calming voice in Hamilton’s ear that has helped him to deliver six Drivers’ titles and 82 wins with Mercedes to date.
However, it was announced on Thursday that Hamilton had opted to activate a break clause in his contract to agree a switch to Ferrari from next year on a multi-year deal.
Expectedly, it has been pondered whether Bonnington will accompany Hamilton to Maranello, with teams often being open to letting drivers bring familiar faces across.
Ferrari is no stranger to permitting this to allow signings to adapt to its environment, with Michael Schumacher coming from Benetton in 1996 with Technical Director Ross Brawn and Chief Designer Rory Byrne.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who was informed by Hamilton in a face-to-face meeting, is aware that conversations with Bonnington about his plans must take place.
“I think this is a discussion which everyone needs to have in the months to come,” Wolff told media, including Motorsport Week. “As much as I have spoken to Bono already.
“When I told him he said ‘is it April 1st?’ You know that’s something which we will discuss in the future.”
One complication that could arise if Bonnington elects to follow Hamilton is the short turnover that would encompass as the final race of 2024 is fixed for December 8.
Motorsport.com’s Italian publication reports that Hamilton is interested in taking Bonnington and also Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin with him to Ferrari.
However, it is also written that neither is enticed with that prospect right now due to concerns over having to relocate their entire families to a completely different country.
Regardless, Ferrari has been successful in prizing a vital cog in Mercedes’ past record-breaking success with the signing of the team’s Performance Director Loic Serra.
According to reports, Serra’s departure was a reason behind Hamilton’s bombshell transfer, with the two aligned on being against Mercedes’ failed ‘zeropod’ car concept.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has strived to bolster the marque’s technical ranks since he was appointed in late 2022 and Hamilton could drive more recruits.
La Gazzetta dello Sport has written that it is “very likely” more people will follow Hamilton and Serra in transitioning from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the regulation reset in 2026.
The outlet has highlighted the name of Riccardo Musconi, who was George Russell’s race engineer in 2022 before becoming Mercedes’ Head of Trackside Performance.
Musconi, who is of Italian descent, could stand to be utilised in that same role at Ferrari and lead its in-season development building up to the coming rules overhaul.
The Italian newspaper believes Musconi’s arrival at Ferrari would be determined as a “turning point” which could pave the way for a mass exodus within the Mercedes team.
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