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Motorsport

Hamilton fired up by Bono's poignant final "hammertime" call

Bono Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Pete Bonnington Ferrari Peter Bonnington MercedesAMG F1 Team

Lewis Hamilton said hearing race engineer Pete Bonnington gee him up with their famous "hammertime" catchphrase one last time was a poignant moment as he departs Mercedes for Ferrari.

Hamilton and his long-time engineer Bonnington, or Bono for short, forged a formidable partnership at Mercedes that led to six drivers' titles and helped the Brackley-based squad win eight constructors' crowns on the trot between 2014 and 2021.

Their trademark "hammertime" phrase, used by Bono when Hamilton needed to pump out a string of qualifying laps during a race, soon made it into the public domain but saw less use this season as Hamilton and Mercedes went through a campaign with some ups but also plenty of downs.

Their partnership has now come to a conclusion, with Hamilton leaving for Ferrari and Bonnington staying at Mercedes. But as the seven-time world champion ended his Mercedes career with a gritty comeback drive from 16th to fourth in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton said getting fired up by his trusted race engineer one last time was a particularly poignant moment.

When asked by Motorsport.com if hearing "hammertime" one last time geed him up even more than it usually did, he smiled: “I noticed that today. When he told me, I was like ‘I can’t even remember the last time he told me hammertime’.

“I remember I told Bono to say hammertime back in the first year together. I was like, ‘Don’t just tell me to go faster, tell me it’s hammertime and I know what it is’."

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, alongside colleagues, including Peter Bonnington, Senior Race Engineer, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team (Photo by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images)

Hamilton paid tribute to his long-time ally, who he said has become one of his best friends over the years.

"What a rollercoaster ride I’ve had with Bono," Hamilton added. "He’s been one of my closest friends for many years.

"It’s something I didn’t expect to have because he worked with Michael Schumacher, he’s worked with great drivers and for the longest time he’s stood by me.

"For an engineer to stick by someone, as frustrating and painful as it can sometimes be – he’s stood by me every single day without fail.”

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Race

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, during the 2024 drivers line up

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The 2024 drivers line up on the grid for an end of season photograph

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Departing drivers Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, receive an ovation from colleagues

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Alex Albon, Williams Racing

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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, on the grid

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Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

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Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, on the grid with the Constructors Championship trophy prior to the start

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Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, the rest of the field at the start

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, spins on track after a collision with Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38 (not pictured)

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Smoke fills the air as Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, at the start

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, the remainder of the field

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Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, on the formation lap

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George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

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Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

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Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

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Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, celebrates with donuts after the race

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

The McLaren team celebrate

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, celebrates on the grid at the end of the race

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, sprays Champagne on the podium

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Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, celebrate on the podium with Champagne

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Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 3rd position, on the podium

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

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George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem film a scene for the F1 movie on the podium

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Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, pours Champagne over Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, on the podium

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Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team, the McLaren team celebrate after securing the Constructors title

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Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

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Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing,rea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team, the McLaren team celebrate after securing the Constructors title

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Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, the McLaren team celebrate after securing the Constructors Championship title

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Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, the McLaren team celebrate securing the Constructors Championship title

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Formula 1

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Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton

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