Netflix’s new F1 documentary The Seat could heart on Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli however it’s a quiet, emotional second from one other key determine that’s putting a chord with longtime followers.
Peter Bonnington—identified to F1 world as ‘Bono’—has served as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer for over a decade, guiding him although six of his seven world championships with the Silver Arrows. Within the documentary, he displays on their enduring partnership and the looming finish of an iconic period as Hamilton departed for Ferrari in 2025.
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“I used to be shocked. The feelings have been in every single place. I hoped that I might have seen out my days with Lewis as an engineer,” Bonnington , a uncommon second of vulnerability that stops viewers of their tracks. His tone is comfortable however loaded with the burden of years spent chasing greatness.
That candid reflection from Bonnington encapsulates so many within the paddock and past really feel: that the Hamilton-Bonnington partnership wasn’t simply profitable—it was particular.
Lewis Hamilton after ending third through the Miami Grand Prix Dash Race.Sam Navarro-Imagn Pictures
From high-stakes title fights to dramatic late-race calls, their radio messages turned legendary. However behind the sharp methods and calm beneath stress was a real human connection—one that may quickly be severed.
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For months, rumors swirled that Bonnington may comply with Hamilton to Ferrari, persevering with their storied relationship in pink. However that hypothesis was put to relaxation when Mercedes confirmed Bono can be staying—and stepping right into a extra senior engineer function. In the meantime, Hamilton has been paired with Riccardo Adami at Ferrari, who previously labored with Sebastian Vetterl throughout his stint with the workforce.
The early indicators of this new partnership have been rocky. On the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton’s frustration boiled over on the workforce radio in a tense change with Adami through the race. The chemistry that after outlined Hamilton and Bono is, for now, lacking.
As Hamilton navigates this new chapter of his profession, The Seat affords a sobering reminder of what’s been left behind—and the emotional value of evolution in Method 1.
