In a surprising turn of events, Lewis Hamilton's long-time race engineer, Peter Bonnington, known as "Bono" to race fans, has decided to stay with Mercedes instead of joining the seven-time world champion at Ferrari next year. Bonnington has been an integral part of Hamilton's success, working alongside him since he joined Mercedes in 2013.

The role of a race engineer holds immense importance in Formula 1, and Hamilton has clinched six out of his seven world titles with Bonnington by his side. With Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2022, speculations arose regarding whether Bonnington would accompany him to the Italian team. However, it has now been confirmed that Bonnington will pledge his future to Mercedes, securing a promotion to the esteemed position of Head of Race Engineering.

This significant promotion for Bonnington will be effective starting from this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix. Despite the change in roles, Bonnington will continue to work closely with Hamilton until the end of the ongoing season.

Mercedes, on the other hand, has yet to announce Hamilton's replacement for 2025. However, there are strong indications that the team is considering promoting their talented academy wonderkid, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, from Formula 2.

Ferrari, meanwhile, has been active in signing talents from Mercedes, with Jérôme d'Ambrosio joining as the deputy principal and Loic Sera taking charge as the head of chassis performance engineering.

Bonnington's decision to remain at Mercedes showcases his loyalty and commitment to the team that has been instrumental in their joint success over the years. With Hamilton's impending departure, the world will be closely watching how both Mercedes and Ferrari adapt to the major changes that lie ahead in the world of Formula 1.